Flange Feature Patents (Class 242/614)
  • Patent number: 7533848
    Abstract: In a single-reel type tape cartridge of a servo tracking system in which signal recording is performed, a tape reel capable of eliminating edge projection during tape winding and achieving high recording density of a magnetic tape and a magnetic tape cartridge for housing the tape reel is provided. The tape reel is provided with a cylindrical hub around which the magnetic tape is wound and a pair of upper and lower flanges. The average value of the thickness of a reference flange that receives the tape edge of the magnetic tape during tape winding is set greater than the average value of the thickness of the opposite flange. The tape receiving surface of the reference flange is formed into an inclined surface, and three or more air escape recess portions are formed on the tape receiving surface. The depth of each air escape recess portion is set not smaller than 0.05 mm and not greater than 0.40 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoya Miura, Yasuo Inugai, Shigeru Yasuda, Shihoko Takashima, Sadamu Kuse
  • Publication number: 20090078809
    Abstract: Disclosed are a reel structured such that a recording tape can be wound on a hub without interference with a pair of flanges provided in opposing relationship to each other, and a method of designing such a reel. The hub is formed in a tapered shape, and a taper angle of the hub is determined from an expression ?<sin?1(G/L), where G is a spacing along an axial direction of the hub between the edge of the recording tape on the larger-diameter end portion of the hub at a winding start end of the recording tape and the flange on the larger-diameter side, and L is a winding length of the recording tape which is required to establish a state in which the recording tape can withstand a given tension when wound onto the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Iino, Ren Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7438258
    Abstract: A reel device includes a spool unit and a handle unit. The spool unit includes a tubular winding body and a pair of first and second flanges. The winding body has opposite first and second open ends, each of which has a peripheral edge. Each of the first and second flanges extends radially and outwardly from the peripheral edge of a respective one of the first and second open ends of the winding body. The handle unit is disposed in and is coupled rotatably to the winding body. The spool unit is rotatable relative to the handle unit in a first angular direction, and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Chi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 7434761
    Abstract: A cable deployment and storage system includes a cable reel mounting device, and a cable reel for carrying a length of cable. The cable reel includes a hub that may be rotatably mounted on the cable reel mounting device during deployment of the length of cable, a pair of inner end flanges carried by respective opposing ends of the hub, and a pair of removable outer end flanges carried by respective inner end flanges to contain the length of cable therebetween during deployment. The outer end flanges may thereafter be removed to reduce a size of the cable reel. The pair of inner end flanges may store any remaining length of cable therebetween after deployment. The cable may include connectors installed at each end during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Commscope Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Mark O. Vogel, Christopher P. Gemme, Mark E. Alrutz, Martin B. Lee
  • Publication number: 20080197232
    Abstract: A flange design providing improved strength, fracture resistance, and the like using corrugations extending substantially radially from an arbor aperture toward a rim portion. A spool or reel may include a tubular member to receive a stranded material wrapped therearound. A first flange comprising a core portion and an outer portion may secure to one end of the first flange engaging the tubular member. A second flange may secure to the other end of the tubular member. The core portion of a flange may comprise an arbor wall defining the perimeter of an arbor aperture. The arbor wall may be directly contacted and supported by a plurality of corrugations extending radially therefrom. The outer portion of a flange may contact the core portion and extending radially away therefrom to an outer edge to restrain the stranded material in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: C. Robert Ripplinger
  • Patent number: 7410118
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge reel includes a hub having a first end and a second end configured to receive a magnetic tape to be wound thereon and at least one flange which is attached to at least one of the first end and the second end of the hub, wherein the at least one flange is formed separately from the hub and is made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Shiga
  • Publication number: 20080156928
    Abstract: A wireline cable winch drum is provided that includes a core having a longitudinal axis; a pair of flanges spaced apart and extending radially outwardly from the core; and a wireline cable wrapped around the core in the space between the flanges. In one embodiment, at least one of the flanges includes an inner surface that contacts the wireline cable and forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Doud, James Benner, Ravicharan Mydur, Jean Louis Pessin, Jeff Kamps, Jose R. Jimenez, Emma Ford
  • Patent number: 7384012
    Abstract: The invention relates a long-distance casting spool 1 for fishing reels, with a spool body 2 comprising a spool base 3 and limit flanges 4, 5 on both sides, where limit flange 4 pointing in the run-off direction is provided with a radially outer spool lip 6, via which a fishing line that can be wound up in circumferential winding direction s perpendicular to spool axis a can run off in run-off direction z roughly parallel to spool axis a. With the object of reducing the frictional resistance between the unwinding fishing line and spool lip 6, it is proposed that spool lip 6 display a number of retaining fins 7, distributed evenly over the circumference, that base end 8 of each retaining fin 7 be permanently connected to spool body 2, that the free ends of retaining fins 7 extend obliquely in the direction opposite to winding direction s, and that retaining fins 7 have a radially outer, longitudinal side designed as fin lip 9. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Günther Burk
  • Patent number: 7364113
    Abstract: A flange design providing improved strength, fracture resistance, and the like using corrugations extending substantially radially from an arbor aperture toward a rim portion. A spool or reel may include a tubular member to receive a stranded material wrapped therearound. A first flange comprising a core portion and an outer portion may secure to one end of the first flange engaging the tubular member. A second flange may secure to the other end of the tubular member. The core portion of a flange may comprise an arbor wall defining the perimeter of an arbor aperture. The arbor wall may be directly contacted and supported by a plurality of corrugations extending radially therefrom. The outer portion of a flange may contact the core portion and extending radially away therefrom to an outer edge to restrain the stranded material in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: C. Robert Ripplinger
  • Publication number: 20080067282
    Abstract: A wire spool with color identification includes an axial tube, a first flange extending from a first end of the axial tube, and a second flange extending from a second end of the axial tube. The wire spool is characterized in that the first flange has at least one depression coated with a color layer. Thus, the color layer is not easy to peel and the cost of manufacturing the wire spool can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: YUH MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Chieh Yang
  • Patent number: 7341220
    Abstract: A roll support member is provided that is used for suspending in a packaging case a roll-form recording material wound around a core. The roll support member includes a four corner-cut square flange portion having a thickness and an insertion portion that projects cylindrically from substantially the center of the flange portion and is inserted into one end of the core. The flange portion and the insertion portion are formed integrally. The side of the flange portion from which the insertion portion projects is a flat face. The side of the flange portion opposite to the flat face is provided with ribs forming a plurality of energy absorbing space zones. The outer peripheral side of the flange portion has a height that is no greater than the height of the ribs. There is also provided a recording material package in which a roll-form recording material is suspended and supported in a housing by the roll support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Katayama
  • Patent number: 7243877
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape reel includes a hub and spaced apart opposing flanges extending out from the hub such that a tape may pass between inner surfaces of the flanges and wrap around the hub. The flanges have a cross section in which a rate at which a distance between the inner surfaces of the flanges increases is greater nearer to the hub and lesser farther from the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: James C. Anderson
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7222818
    Abstract: A spool is provided having opposing identical end flanges coupled to a central barrel. An annular rim portion of the flanges is provided with a plurality of openings positioned at different radial and circumferential positions. The openings are sized such that if the openings were rotated into angular alignment, the openings would span the annular rim portion from an inner radius to an outer radius. The openings thus allow a user to view contents of the spool. Each flange may further provide a generally semi-circularly shaped recess sized and shaped to receive a winding dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Couchey, Victor J. DesRosiers
  • Patent number: 7204452
    Abstract: A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The spool includes a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core. At least one ring on the support encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment, the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James Wilkinson, Fedor Baranov
  • Patent number: 7178754
    Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon anchor including a spool having opposing sides, a pair of flanges, one flange extending from each opposing side of the spool, at least one of the flanges having a cutout section, the cutout section having a first side and a second side; and a hook extending from the second side of the cutout section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: CTI Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Brent Anderson
  • Patent number: 7152826
    Abstract: A tape reel includes a hub in a cylindrical shape around which a magnetic tape is adapted to be wrapped, an upper flange and a lower flange respectively provided at an upper end and a lower end of the hub. The tape reel is constructed in such a manner that a distance between the upper and the lower flanges outside the outer peripheral surface of the hub is gradually decreased, as the magnetic tape is being wrapped around the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoo Morita
  • Patent number: 7147180
    Abstract: A tape winding method and apparatus for facilitating the escape of air from between layers of a tape during a tape winding operation. A tape winding apparatus has a tape reel onto which a tape is adapted to be wound during a tape winding operation. A plurality of generally radial slots are provided in at least one of first and second flanges of the tape reel to create a fan-like action that generates a negative air pressure in the vicinity of the tape as the tape is being wound onto the tape reel to facilitate the escape of air from between layers of the tape during the tape winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Beard, Hartvig E. Melbye
  • Patent number: 7137587
    Abstract: A spool for winding an optical fiber includes flanges attached to each other using an ultrasonic fusion splicer. The spool has first and second cylindrical barrels, on which the optical fiber is wound. The flanges have a disk shape and protrude radially from the first and second cylindrical barrels so as to restrict the winding area of the optical fiber. Ultrasonic fusion splicing points form along a junction by engaging the first and second cylindrical barrels in an axial direction so as to face each other, locating a head of an ultrasonic fusion splicer on the junction and generating an ultrasonic wave from the head to the junction so as to fusion splice the first and second flanges together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Woong Jeong, Yeong-Seop Lee, Ki-Tae Jung
  • Patent number: 7111806
    Abstract: A spool for a supply of printing material includes a first part having a shaft on which the supply of printing material is mountable, and a second part having an opening and being arranged to retain the supply of printing material mounted on the first part. The opening is arranged to engage the shaft. One or the other of the opening and the shaft is resilient and the other of the opening and the shaft has at least one part which extends towards the said one of said opening and the shaft more than at least one other part thereof to thereby cause the second part having the opening to engage with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Esselte
    Inventor: James Craig
  • Patent number: 7077354
    Abstract: Tape is spooled onto a hub by receiving the tape between guide members. The guide members guide one or both edges of the tape as the tape begins to wrap around the hub and floats on a layer of air formed between the tape and a previously wound layer of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Saliba
  • Patent number: 7073742
    Abstract: A take-up or supply reel for aligning and stacking storage tape. The tape reel may include a hub, where tape wraps around the hub and two flanges. The flanges are spaced apart on the hub, where surfaces of the flanges face each other at a distance such that the tape may pass therebetween. At least one of the opposing surfaces includes a guiding portion where a separation distance between the opposing surfaces of the flanges corresponding to the guiding portion decreases as tape is wound to the hub. The guiding portion guides the tape as it passes therebetween to stack more uniformly on the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Saliba
  • Patent number: 7066424
    Abstract: A spool for winding an optical fiber includes flanges attached to each other using an ultrasonic fusion splicer. The spool has first and second cylindrical barrels, on which the optical fiber is wound. The flanges have a disk shape and protrude radially from the first and second cylindrical barrels so as to restrict the winding area of the optical fiber. Ultrasonic fusion splicing points form along a junction by engaging the first and second cylindrical barrels in an axial direction so as to face each other, locating a head of an ultrasonic fusion splicer on the junction and generating an ultrasonic wave from the head to the junction so as to fusion splice the first and second flanges together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Woong Jeong, Yeong-Seop Lee, Ki-Tae Jung
  • Patent number: 7066425
    Abstract: The invention a device with retractable anti-roll means designed in particular for a wire dispensing reel (10) having a cylindrical body (11) and end flanges (12, 13). The end flange (12) comprises a circular peripheral rolling edge (2) provided with slots (15a–15f) wherein slide elastic blades (5a–5f) the ends of which constitute retractable radial anti-roll projections (3a–3f). The elastic blades (5a–5f) are integral with a coaxially operated ring (4) whereof the rotation enables to project or retract the radial anti-roll projections (3a–3f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Thermocompact
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Cornier, Gilles Mollard
  • Patent number: 7032855
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge reel includes a hub having a first end and a second end configured to receive a magnetic tape to be wound thereon and at least one flange which is attached to at least one of the first end and the second end of the hub, wherein the at least one flange is formed separately from the hub and is made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Shiga
  • Patent number: 7014139
    Abstract: An unwind spool assembly for dispensing material wound into a roll includes a rotatable shaft and a mounting block rotatably mounted on the shaft for rotation about the shaft in a wind direction and an unwind direction, wherein in the unwind direction the material unwinds from the roll, and in the wind direction the material winds onto the roll. A biasing member interposed between the shaft and the mounting block rotatably biases the mounting block toward the wind direction. In another embodiment, a slip clutch is fixed to the shaft for maintaining a drag on the shaft as the shaft rotates in the unwind direction to maintain tension in the material unwinding from the roll. In yet another embodiment, the unwind spool assembly includes a spool core for holding the roll of material. The spool core is rotatable about an axis, and at least one flange extending radially from the core is rotatable about the axis independently of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Schanke, Brent A. Bandholz, Robert F. Behlmer
  • Patent number: 7007885
    Abstract: A reel assembly includes a reel having a magnet rim, turntable, magnetic key, and a wire feed tube. The reel is self starting and holds the feed wire upon the completion of winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Buckwitz
  • Patent number: 6959887
    Abstract: A spool for a dual-bearing reel that allows accurate casting to be performed is provided. A spool includes a tubular bobbin trunk, and flange portions that project radially outward on both sides of the bobbin trunk. The flange portions include inner flange portions and outer flange portions. The inner flange portions are formed on both ends of the bobbin trunk, project radially outward, and are integrally formed with the bobbin trunk. The outer flange portions are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the inner flange portions, and radially project outward. The outer flange portions are outsert formed on the inner flange portions. The bobbin trunk is made from an aluminum alloy, and the outer flange portions are made from a magnesium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Ken'ichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6942096
    Abstract: Paired light shielding flange members, each having: a hollow cylindrical boss section to be inserted into a core around which a photosensitive material has been wound, wherein a plurality of rip sections are formed on the exterior surface of the cylindrical boss section parallel with an axis of the boss section, and an interior surface portion of rib is grooved in parallel with the axis of the hollow cylindrically boss section, and a flange section, integrated concentrically with the hollow cylindrical boss section, to prevent the edge of photosensitive material from being exposed to light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Ikariya, Mitsuru Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 6932295
    Abstract: A tape reel within a tape path is disclosed for storing a tape. The tape reel includes a first flange having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first flange is attached to a hub. The tape reel also includes a second flange attached to the hub. The second flange is substantially parallel to the first flange. The second flange has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the second flange is tapered with respect to the axis of the hub. The reel is tilted with respect to a plane of the tape path so that the tapered inner surface is moved so that it is located in a plane that is horizontal to a plane of the tape path at the point of exit of the tape from the tape reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel W. Underkofler
  • Publication number: 20040232275
    Abstract: A cable deployment and storage system includes a cable reel mounting device, and a cable reel for carrying a length of cable. The cable reel includes a hub that may be rotatably mounted on the cable reel mounting device during deployment of the length of cable, a pair of inner end flanges carried by respective opposing ends of the hub, and a pair of removable outer end flanges carried by respective inner end flanges to contain the length of cable therebetween during deployment. The outer end flanges may thereafter be removed to reduce a size of the cable reel. The pair of inner end flanges may store any remaining length of cable therebetween after deployment. The cable may include connectors installed at each end during manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: CommScope Properties, LLC, (a Nevada Limited Liability Company)
    Inventors: Mark O. Vogel, Christopher P. Gemme, Mark E. Alrutz, Martin B. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040227032
    Abstract: A trapezoidal bobbin for providing a foundation for a coil of optical fiber comprises an elongated hub, an upper flange and a lower flange. The elongated hub includes a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end and an exterior surface. The hub is symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis. The upper flange is disposed at the first end of the hub, and includes an exterior surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and faces away from the hub. The upper flange is further includes an interior surface that forms an angle of substantially 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The lower flange is disposed at the second end of the hub, and includes an exterior surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and facing away from the hub, and an interior surface forming an angle of substantially 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Gregory
  • Publication number: 20040188560
    Abstract: The invention a device with retractable anti-roll means designed in particular for a wire dispensing reel (10) having a cylindrical body (11) and end flanges (12, 13). The end flange (12) comprises a circular peripheral rolling edge (2) provided with slots (15a-15f) wherein slide elastic blades (5a-5f) the ends of which constitute retractable radial anti-roll projections (3a-3f). The elastic blades (5a-5f) are integral with a coaxially operated ring (4) whereof the rotation enables to project or retract the radial anti-roll projections (3a-3f).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Cornier, Gilles Mollard
  • Patent number: 6786445
    Abstract: A spool system for packing tape on a hub. The spool has upper and lower flanges on the hub, and a flexure positioned on the hub between the two flanges. The flexure is normally parallel to the flanges, but when a force is applied to the tape lead-in edge of the flexure, that edge of the flexure is pressed toward one of the flanges. This causes the tape lead-in side of the spool system to have a wider opening than the tape packing side of the spool system. The width of the space on the tape packing side is preferably equal to or narrower than the width of the tape to be packed, so that the flexure presses against the edge of tape as it loads, reducing stagger of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Allen Todd, Donovan Milo Janssen, Phillip Monroe Morgan, Daniel W. Underkofler
  • Patent number: 6783833
    Abstract: A protector for sheet metal coil is formed of plastic with a flange and sleeve which are joined together at a ridge portion. The protectors incorporate symmetrically disposed groupings of stacking features or components which include a finger within a stacking access opening, a stacking tab, and a stacking opening. The fingers are employed to resiliently engage the inner surface of a core of a coil and incorporate a receiver surface for freely abuttable engagement with a stacking tab of a second protector when arranged in mutual stacking relationship. The stacking openings function for stacking purposes to receive the protruding finger of a next stack protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ITW Fleetwood-Signode
    Inventors: Paul G. Bordner, Bret D. Bordner, Jeffrey G. Kellermann
  • Patent number: 6783094
    Abstract: A recording-media tape reel including a cylindrical hub with its center line as an axis of rotation, and a pair of disc flanges extending radially from upper and lower ends of the hub. The tape reel meets the following Equation: H1−&agr;>H2+&bgr; in which H1 is a reference value for a distance from a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis along the bottom surface of the lower flange, to the radially inner end of the interior surface of the flange, a is a tolerance on the negative side of H1, H2 is a reference value for a distance from the reference plane to the radially outer end of the interior surface, and &bgr; is a tolerance on the positive side of H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoo Morita
  • Publication number: 20040140392
    Abstract: A take-up or supply reel for aligning and stacking storage tape. The tape reel may include a hub, where tape wraps around the hub and at least one pair of guiding arms. The guiding arms may be located on opposite sides of the hub, where surfaces of the guiding arms face each other at a distance such that the tape may pass therebetween. The guiding arms include a leading edge and a trailing edge, where the tape passes between the leading edges of the guiding arms prior to passing between the trailing edges of the guiding arms. The surfaces of the guiding arms include a portion corresponding to a minimum distance between the surfaces of the guiding arms, and the leading edges are separated by a distance greater than the minimum distance between the surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: George Saliba
  • Publication number: 20040140390
    Abstract: Tape is spooled onto a hub by receiving the tape between guide members. The guide members guide one or both edges of the tape as the tape begins to wrap around the hub and floats on a layer of air formed between the tape and a previously wound layer of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: George Saliba
  • Publication number: 20040140391
    Abstract: A take-up or supply reel for aligning and stacking storage tape. The tape reel may include a hub, where tape wraps around the hub and two flanges. The flanges are spaced apart on the hub, where surfaces of the flanges face each other at a distance such that the tape may pass therebetween. At least one of the opposing surfaces includes a guiding portion where a separation distance between the opposing surfaces of the flanges corresponding to the guiding portion decreases as tape is wound to the hub. The guiding portion guides the tape as it passes therebetween to stack more uniformly on the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: George A. Saliba
  • Publication number: 20040099762
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge reel comprising a hub having a first end and a second end configured to receive a magnetic tape to be wound thereon and at least one flange which is attached to at least one of the first end and the second end of the hub, wherein the at least one flange is formed separately from the hub and is made of a flexible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Shiga
  • Patent number: 6739538
    Abstract: A tape reel assembly for a data storage tape cartridge including a hub, and first and second flanges. The hub defines a hub axis and opposing first and second ends from which the flanges extend, respectively. The first flange includes a radially extending main body and an adjustment section. The adjustment section is provided within the main body, defines a tape edge contact surface, and is characterized by an increased flexibility as compared to the main body. The tape edge contact surface is readily deflectable relative to the hub axis. The adjustment section is configured such that a deflection orientation of the tape edge contact surface is a function of pressure on the hub. During use, as pressure on the hub increases (e.g., tape winding pressure), the adjustment section positions the tape edge contact surface to desirably direct the wound tape to a consistent lateral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Jerry L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6715710
    Abstract: A self-aligning stackable cable reel has a pair of spaced apart disc-shaped flanges joined by a tubular central core. Each flange has a periphery and an outside face. A generally annular rim extends around the periphery of each flange and projects outwardly from the outside face to an edge. The edge of each rim is contoured to define a repeating serpentine pattern around the rim. When two cable reels are stacked end-on-end, the serpentine patterns of their respective rims intermesh to align the cable reels automatically with each other and to lock them against relative sliding motion during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Russell Forest Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly C. Russell, Randall S. Wilson, Robert D. White
  • Patent number: 6612515
    Abstract: A ribbon cable storage spool, tray and method of use. The spool comprising a center post and a plurality of radially extending top and bottom fins. The spool may also comprise a guide wall, a ribbon retention tab, a channel wall defining a channel and a ledge, and an oblong shape. The tray comprising a bottom plate and a sidewall which act together to define a spool chamber for receiving the spool. The bottom plate may also define holes such that the bottom fins of the spool are coplanar with the bottom plate when the spool is placed in the tray. The bottom plate may also include a column to be received by the channel of the spool. The channel and column may include a tongue and groove arrangement for preventing rotation of the spool relative to the tray. The column may also include a flexible clip for retaining the spool in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Tinucci, John C. Holman, Trevor D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6609676
    Abstract: A cable reel is fabricated from wood and is of open or skeletal design while retaining the strength and ruggedness of traditional solid, metal reels. The reel includes two flanges which are constructed of a plurality of arcuate members fastened together at their ends to form an annular rim. A number of wooden spokes are provided for each rim. A main spoke spans the entire diametrical distance of the annular rim and is attached thereto. The other spokes extend radially from the center to the perimeter of the annular rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Mike Wilson
  • Patent number: 6604700
    Abstract: In an inner surface of a lower flange of the magnetic tape reel, 6 concave portions each shaped in nearly as isosceles triangle are made formed at even angle intervals of 60 degrees with their circumferential cross-section area being larger as approaching to a hub. When a magnetic tape is wound on the hub, air which exists between a tape-winding surface of the hub or the tape already wound and the tape to be wound further is guided to the concave portions, and an amount of wound-in air becomes less in the inner side and large in the outer periphery. Consequently, a pressure of winding the tape tight at the outer periphery does not reach the inner side, so that winding irregularities or deformation of the tape do not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kiso
  • Publication number: 20030098385
    Abstract: A spool gripper is coupled to any one of the flanges provided at both sides of a spool wound with a semiconductor device bonding wire thereon. The spool gripper has an inner diameter portion for receiving a spool holder when the spool is fitted to the spool holder, a coupling portion coupled to the circumference of the flange while bearing a diameter larger than the inner diameter portion, and an outer diameter portion with a diameter larger than the coupling portion. The worker grips the outer diameter portion to handle the spool. The handling of the spool can be made without directly touching the spool. The wire bonding operation is made while the gripper is coupled to the flange. Therefore, it is not necessary to decouple the gripper from the flange to make the wire bonding operation. Accordingly, the durability of the gripper and the reliability in the spool holding can be maintained without deterioration while preventing separation of the spool from the gripper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jung Woo Back
  • Publication number: 20030075638
    Abstract: In a take-up reel for use in taking up a tape, a pair of flanges are connected to opposite ends of a cylindrical reel hub in an axial direction thereof, respectively. A take-up region is defined between the flanges as a region where the tape is taken up. Each of the flanges comprises a plurality of vanes extending outward from the reel hub in directions different from one another. Each vane has an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion smaller in mass than the inner peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tangi, Eiichi Yoneyama, Kazuya Tamura, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Publication number: 20030038209
    Abstract: Storage device for a cable. Two spaced flange parts are connected by an intermediate connection part. The connection part functions as reel for the cable to be stored while the flange parts enclose the cable in storage position. The flange parts and the intermediate parts are integrally mould from an elastomeric plastic material by injection moulding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Szabina Rozsa Maria Remeczky
  • Publication number: 20020179760
    Abstract: A trapezoidal bobbin for providing a foundation for a coil of optical fiber comprises an elongated hub, an upper flange and a lower flange. The elongated hub includes a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end and an exterior surface. The hub is symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis. The upper flange is disposed at the first end of the hub, and includes an exterior surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and faces away from the hub. The upper flange is further includes an interior surface that forms an angle of substantially 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The lower flange is disposed at the second end of the hub, and includes an exterior surface that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and facing away from the hub, and an interior surface forming an angle of substantially 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Peter Gregory
  • Patent number: 6478249
    Abstract: A reel flange is provided comprising wooden pieces (2A) disposed in a plane so as to constitute a disk and a connector (100) for maintaining said wooden pieces in the required position. The wooden pieces (2A) each have an overall sector shape which, when placed side by side, form a disk, and the connector includes a band (6) that presses onto the periphery of the disk and two plates centered on the disk that maintain the central area of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jean Pierre Orzel