Film Or Tape Cartridge Patents (Class 29/806)
  • Patent number: 8969752
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser processing method comprising the steps of attaching a protective tape 25 to a front face 3 of a wafer 1a, irradiating a substrate 15 with laser light L while employing a rear face of the wafer 1a as a laser light entrance surface and locating a light-converging point P within the substrate 15 so as to form a molten processed region 13 due to multiphoton absorption, causing the molten processed region 13 to form a cutting start region 8 inside by a predetermined distance from the laser light entrance surface along a line 5 along which the object is intended to be cut in the wafer 1a, attaching an expandable tape 23 to the rear face 21 of the wafer 1a, and expanding the expandable tape 23 so as to separate a plurality of chip parts 24 produced upon cutting the wafer 1a from the cutting start region 8 acting as a start point from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Kenshi Fukumitsu, Fumitsugu Fukuyo, Naoki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8291580
    Abstract: A tape feeder for supplying components to a component mounter via a carrier tape on which the components are disposed at predetermined intervals, wherein the carrier tape and components are covered with a cover tape, is described. The tape feeder may comprise a frame including a receptacle. The receptacle may have an inlet port for receiving the cover tape separated from the carrier tape, a space for containing the cover tape received through the inlet port, and a door opening through which the cover tape is discharged. The tape feeder may additionally comprise a door configured to open or close the door opening and an opening/closing member configured to fasten the door closed and thereafter open the door when an inner pressure of at least a predetermined value is applied by the cover tape received in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8006373
    Abstract: A tape feeder for a chip mounter is provided. The tape feeder includes a frame, a first link, a second link, and a middle link. A tape is fed along the frame. The first link includes a guide unit guiding the tape and a first end rotatably connected to the frame. The first link is capable of being rotated between a closed position in which the guide unit couples with the frame to guide the tape and an open position in which the guide unit is placed away from the frame. The second link is rotatably connected to the frame and includes a first end supported relative to the frame. The middle link includes a first end rotatably connected to a second end of the first link and a second end rotatably connected to a second end of the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-soo Choi
  • Patent number: 7922053
    Abstract: A feeder for a surface mount placement system includes a feeder body comprising a shaft, a front cover, and a rear cover. The front cover has one end pivotally installed on the feeder body via the shaft, a free end, and a pair of sidewalls respectively extending from two sides of the free end towards the feeder body. The rear cover pivotally installed on the feeder body, including a blocking portion, and the free end of the front cover overlap. The blocking portion is wider than the distance between the sidewalls of the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 7721420
    Abstract: Provided is an assembler for assembling a carrier for supporting printhead integrated circuits. The carrier has upper and lower parts that are operatively fastened together. The assembler includes a support structure configured to support the lower part in a pre-fastened position, and a holding mechanism arranged on the support structure for holding the upper part in a pre-fastened position. The assembler also includes a displacement mechanism arranged on the support structure for displacing the holding mechanisms to bring the parts into operative registration with each other, and a fastening apparatus for fastening the parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Stephen Richard O'Farrell, Jan Waszczuk, David Bernardi, Toby Desmond Oste, Mark Janos, William Granger
  • Patent number: 7676898
    Abstract: Magnetic recording media are smoothed with a tape. Each magnetic recording medium has a magnetic film and a lubricant film thereon. Next, the smoothed magnetic recording media are taken out from a process case and put in a shipping case. The magnetic recording media are then taken out from the shipping case and tested. Non-defective ones of the magnetic recording media are put in the shipping case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kiyoto Toya, Masami Tagawa, Akira Ohira, Shinya Matsuzawa, Youichi Komamura, Kenji Fukase
  • Patent number: 7448130
    Abstract: Provided are a tape feeder for use in chip mounters that can reduce a chip feeding duration and prevent chips from being turned over or assuming wrong postures to feed the chips stably, and a chip mounting method. The tape feeder includes a second link having one end linked to a link shaft through which a first link and a pivot lever are combined and the other end in which a slot curved at a predetermined inclination is formed. The velocity at which a carrier tape is fed changes according to the inclination of the curve of the slot with respect to the moving direction of the first link, the curve contacting the contact unit upon the movement of the first link in a direction helping to rotate a ratchet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-soo Choi, Tae-young Lee
  • 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: 7254878
    Abstract: A supply unit supplies a film strip from a film roll, and a winding unit cuts off a film strip into a fixed-length film and winds the fixed-length film around a spool to produce a wound-film assembly. An assembling unit introduces the wound-film assembly into a one-open-sided cartridge, and mounts and crimps a cap on the one-open-sided cartridge to produce a wound-film-loaded cartridge. After a pullout resistance of the film and a film length to be exposed are inspected, the wound-film-loaded cartridge is unloaded as a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Chiaki Suzuki, Yasuhiro Sekizawa, Kenichi Imoto, Nobuyasu Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7165320
    Abstract: A film cartridge assembling apparatus including one or more assembly chucks each including two die elements formed by combining partial cylindrical inner surfaces thereof together. The circumference of a resulting cylinder being partially cut to form an opening. One of the die elements includes a member having a flat surface extending from an end of the cylindrically-shaped inner surface towards the opening. The member is adjustably mounted to the one of the die elements. The assembly chuck is able to assume a closed state in which the two inner surfaces of the two die elements are matched to each other to form a cylindrical inner surface and an opened state in which ends of the two die elements substantially parallel to the center axis of the cylindrical inner surface are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishii, Akihiko Hase, Chiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7155814
    Abstract: A method of assembling a magnetic tape cartridge where an opening, through which a magnetic tape is drawn out, is provided in part of a sidewall of a cartridge case across a lower half and an upper half of the cartridge case. A slide door that opens and closes the opening is mounted between guide portions provided in the cartridge lower and upper halves, while stressing the slide door with a spring member toward a position in which the opening is closed. During mounting, the slide door is stressed with the spring member toward the position in which the opening is closed by fitting a lower edge of the slide door into the guide portion of the lower half A mounting position of the slide door is retained by holding an end of the slide door facing a direction in which the slide door moves to close the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Ishikawa, Yusuke Ishihara, Naoki Okutsu
  • Patent number: 7032284
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembling method facilitating building-in work of a door and tensile coil spring in a cartridge case. In an assembling of a magnetic tape cartridge, hold the door and coil spring with a component holding jig, grip a part of the door with a robot hand of an assembling apparatus, engage the other end of the coil spring in a spring engaging portion, elongate the coil spring with moving the spring engaging portion in a closing direction, make a state in which the coil spring can be attached to the case-side spring hooking portion as it is when fitting the door in a closing position of the guide groove, then fit in the door, and attach the other end of the coil spring to the case-side spring hooking portion, thereby being able to simultaneously build the door and coil spring in a lower half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6948237
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a film cartridge operable at high speed. A film cartridge comprised of a rounded ribbon plate and a cap clinched to the end of the rounded ribbon plate is produced using an apparatus including plural assembly chucks, an index unit for holding the assembly chucks at equi-angular intervals about a rotation axis and a driving unit for intermittently rotating the index unit. The method includes a step of introducing a rounded ribbon plate into an assembly chuck, a step of introducing a cap to a side end of the cylindrically rounded ribbon plate, in conjunction with the ribbon plate introducing step, when the assembly chuck holding the rounded ribbon plate is halted at a different halt position, and a step of clinching the cap to the ribbon plate, in conjunction with the ribbon plate introducing step, when the assembly chuck holding the ribbon plate having the cap inserted therein is halted at a further different halt position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishii, Akihiko Hase, Chiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6898843
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes an opening 1C through which a magnetic tape is drawn out, and a slide door 6 that slides along a sidewall 1D provided with the opening 1C to open and close the opening 1C. The cartridge having an assembly support device that guides a distal end of a spring support rod onto a support rod receiving block when the slide door is fitted in a lower half of the cartridge case. A proximal end of the spring support rod projects from the slide door, and a compression coil spring is wound around the spring support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Ishikawa, Yusuke Ishihara, Naoki Okutsu
  • Patent number: 6862791
    Abstract: A casing and a lid which are supplied to a casing/lid supply machine are fed to a main assembly line where a light-shielding sheet is mounted on the casing and a film cover supplied from a film cover assembly line is mounted in the casing. Pressers supplied from a presser assembly line are mounted on the lid. The casing and the lid are combined with each other, completing a film case. The film case manufacturing system is capable of efficiently manufacturing highly accurate film cases and is relatively compact in structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiro Esaki, Hideki Matsuzawa, Masami Seko, Nobuo Matsuda, Hiroki Omote, Kazuo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6851169
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge, in which a release pad can be assembled securely by a robot. A magnetic tape cartridge including: a reel around which a magnetic tape is wound; a cartridge case which houses the reel in a locked position; a release pad for releasing locking of the reel; and a cup-like hub of the reel in which the release pad is mounted, wherein a plurality of guide holes for allowing a plurality of lock release pins to penetrate therein, which extend from the lower surface of the release pad, are made in the periphery of a base plate of the cup-like hub, and a plurality of pairs of guide ribs, which are capable of guiding the plurality of lock release pins to the plurality of guide holes, stand inside the cup-like hub corresponding to the plurality of guide holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Tsuyuki, Yusuke Ishihara, Yasushi Hatano, Hidetoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040231128
    Abstract: A tool for reattaching a leader pin assembly to the data tape of a data tape cartridge utilizes a base that snaps onto the cartridge body. The tool opens the door of the cartridge and the loose leader tape inside the cartridge is laid in an alignment channel. A leader pin is inserted into a set of receptacles over the tape, and a clip is inserted into a pocket within an arm on the tool. The tape is then folded and pulled down over the leader pin and held in the alignment channel with a finger of the user. The arm of the tool, which retains the clip, is then pivoted from a disengaged position to an engaged position. The clip snaps over a center section of the leader pin and the folded tape to form a leader pin assembly, thereby securing the tape in the leader pin assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. West
  • Publication number: 20040123452
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembling method facilitating building-in work of a door and tensile coil spring in a cartridge case. In an assembling of a magnetic tape cartridge, hold the door and coil spring with a component holding jig, grip a part of the door with a robot hand of an assembling apparatus, engage the other end of the coil spring in a spring engaging portion, elongate the coil spring with moving the spring engaging portion in a closing direction, make a state in which the coil spring can be attached to the case-side spring hooking portion as it is when fitting the door in a closing position of the guide groove, then fit in the door, and attach the other end of the coil spring to the case-side spring hooking portion, thereby being able to simultaneously build the door and coil spring in a lower half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6752896
    Abstract: A method of detaching a film of material (2) from the surface (5) of a substrate (1). An outlet (11) of a fluid delivery device (10) is engaged with an aperture (7, 8) in the substrate (1) from the opposite side of the substrate (1) from the surface (5) to which the film (2) is attached. Fluid is passed out of the outlet (11) and through the aperture (7, 8) to generate a detaching force between the film of material (2) and the surface (5) adjacent to the aperture (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore PTE LTD
    Inventors: See Yap Ong, Keng Hock Chew, Shu Chuen Ho, Teng Hock Kuah
  • Publication number: 20040070879
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes an opening 1C through which a magnetic tape is drawn out, and a slide door 6 that slides along a sidewall 1D provided with the opening 1C to open and close the opening 1C. The opening 1C is provided in part of the sidewall 1D across a lower half 1A and an upper half 1B of the cartridge case 1. At least one of a lower half portion and an upper half portion of the sidewall is provided with a holding groove 1L that receives a front end portion 6A of the slide door 6 when the opening is closed. Therefore, the upper half 1B and the lower half 1A of the magnetic tape cartridge may be smoothly combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Ishikawa, Yusuke Ishihara, Naoki Okutsu
  • Patent number: 6704999
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6694607
    Abstract: A cartridge positioning and holding mechanism has a fixed guide for positioning a single-open-ended cartridge when the single-open-ended cartridge is inserted in an axial direction thereof with a cap positioned ahead, and a movable chuck openable and closable for forming and holding the single-open-ended cartridge after a film coil is inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge in an axial direction of the spool of the film coil. The film coil can be inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge highly accurately and efficiently with a simple and small arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Suzuki, Susumu Sato, Takayuki Kambara
  • Patent number: 6681478
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6662428
    Abstract: A casing and a lid which are supplied to a casing/lid supply machine are fed to a main assembly line where a light-shielding sheet is mounted on the casing and a film cover supplied from a film cover assembly line is mounted in the casing. Pressers supplied from a presser assembly line are mounted on the lid. The casing and the lid are combined with each other, completing a film case. The film case manufacturing system is capable of efficiently manufacturing highly accurate film cases and is relatively compact in structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiro Esaki, Hideki Matsuzawa, Masami Seko, Nobuo Matsuda, Hiroki Omote, Kazuo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6614993
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit has a body section, a front cover and a rear cover, all of which are plastic parts. These plastic parts are made of raw materials restored from used plastic parts. A plastic parts recycling line is constisuted of a pelletizing line and a non-pelletizing line. In the non-pelletizing line, the used plastic parts are crushed for procuring crushed materials. In the pelletizing line, the crushed materials are melted, extruded and molded into the strand-like resin, which is cut into recycled pellets. The crushed materials are used for forming the plastic parts that are not in contact with a photo film. Meanwhile the recycled pellets are used for forming the plastic parts that are in contact with the photo film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Kamata
  • Patent number: 6591489
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6519839
    Abstract: A cartridge positioning and holding mechanism has a fixed guide for positioning a single-open-ended cartridge when the single-open-ended cartridge is inserted in an axial direction thereof with a cap positioned ahead, and a movable chuck openable and closable for forming and holding the single-open-ended cartridge after a film coil is inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge in an axial direction of the spool of the film coil. The film coil can be inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge highly accurately and efficiently with a simple and small arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Suzuki, Susumu Sato, Takayuki Kambara
  • Patent number: 6519827
    Abstract: In the method and apparatus for assembling a magnetic tape cartridge, a plurality of assembling stations, each of which includes an assembling robot 130 for assembling the respective parts of a magnetic tape cartridge 1, respectively comprise pallet delivery mechanism 135 capable of delivering sequentially a pallet 200 on which an upper cases 2a can be placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Hayashi, Akira Mizuta
  • Patent number: 6490783
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Publication number: 20020178563
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6430808
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6427306
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6427322
    Abstract: A registration mechanism has a datum unit and a bolster movable toward and away from the datum unit. First, second, and third pins are mounted to the bolster. At least one spring resiliently biases the pins outward from the bolster. A pallet is supported by the pins between the bolster and datum unit. The pallet has first, second, and third sockets aligned with respective pins. The pallet has a registering face facing the datum unit. The registering face is disposed opposite the sockets. The pallet is movable by the bolster toward the datum unit from a lowered position. In the lowered position, the registering face is spaced from the datum unit and respective pins and sockets are spaced apart. In a first intermediate position, the registering face is spaced from the datum unit, and the sockets rest freely on respective pins. In a second intermediate position, respective sockets and pins are pressed together in partial counteraction of the resilient biasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael L. DeCecca, Joseph A. Watkins, Duane B. Kirk
  • Patent number: 6412162
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6393695
    Abstract: Automatic assembling method and apparatus using a plurality of pallets on a conveyer belt for assembling photographic film cassettes, or the like. Each pallet has a secondary work holder and a primary work holder. Parts of a secondary assembly are sequentially fed to the secondary work holder and are assembled into the secondary assembly in the secondary work holder. The secondary assembly and other parts of a primary assembly are sequentially fed to the primary work holder and are assembled into the primary in the primary work holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Esaki
  • Patent number: 6385838
    Abstract: To manufacture a film unit, a filmstrip is advanced out of a cartridge shell by rotating a spool of the cartridge shell through a spool drive shaft. The spool drive shaft stops when the filmstrip is advanced a predetermined length out of the cartridge shell. A rotational position of the spool at the stop of the spool drive shaft is detected based on a rotational position of the spool drive shaft. The cartridge shell is disengaged from the spool drive shaft while the rotational position of the spool and the advanced length of the filmstrip are maintained unchanged. The spool of the cartridge shell is engaged with a film supply shaft, after adjusting a rotational position of the film supply shaft to the rotational position of the spool, while the leading end of the filmstrip is secured to a winding shaft. The filmstrip is wound into a roll by rotating the winding shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamazaki, Syunji Kumamoto, Fumio Yuito
  • Publication number: 20020050048
    Abstract: A pinch quill has a shank and a core and sheath apparatus. The core is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The core has a recess sector and an adjoining recess sector. The chock sector has a greater radial dimension than the recess sector. The sheath is mounted coaxially over the core. The sheath is rotatable with the core about the axis. The sheath has an outer face, an inner face, and a longitudinal slot extending between the faces. The slot narrows to a throat at the inner face. The inner face includes a grip surface spaced apart from the throat. The grip surface is longitudinally aligned with the sectors. The sheath is pivotable about the axis between first and second angular orientations relative to the core. The slot is radially aligned with the chock sector at the first angular orientation. The grip surface is radially aligned with the chock sector at an intermediate angular orientation relative to the core. The intermediate angular orientation is between the first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Stephen P. North, John M. Coval
  • Patent number: 6317951
    Abstract: When any of facilities of a film producing and packaging system suffers a failure, a film processing controller shuts off the film producing and packaging system. The operator repairs a failing facility and manually discharges a length of an elongate film which may possibly be defective. After the failing facility is repaired, the film processing controller is restarted to operate the film producing and packaging system, which then automatically discharges a length of the elongate film corresponding to a preset number of sized films. It is possible to easily and quickly discard a portion of the elongate film which has been made defective by the facility failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6292994
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for partly disassembling tape cassettes having at least one closure flap comprise separating the closure flap from the cassette or from the cassette housing at an early time, before, during or shortly after the opening of the cassette. Several process methods and examples of apparatus are specified. The separating methods and apparatuses can be expediently used for all tape cassettes with one or more closure flaps, it being possible for these to be any type of audio, video and data cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: EMTEC Magnetics GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schlatter, Norbert Müller, Gerhard Hoefer
  • Patent number: 6289653
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20010009057
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for partly disassembling tape cassettes having at least one closure flap comprise separating the closure flap from the cassette or from the cassette housing at an early time, before, during or shortly after the opening of the cassette. Several process methods and examples of apparatus are specified. The separating methods and apparatuses can be expediently used for all tape cassettes with one or more closure flaps, it being possible for these to be any type of audio, video and data cassettes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Manfred Schlatter, Norbert Muller, Gerhard Hoefer
  • Patent number: 6237217
    Abstract: For removing defective transponder units or electronic transponder equipment a web (6)is parted in a station (23) firstly in front and then at the rear of the individual unit. Thereafter the picked out unit is conveyed off transverse to a working plane (3)and the two resulting web ends are transferred into a directly juxtaposed station (24). There the web ends are fixedly interconnected by welding, glueing or the like. Therefrom a use web arises, which includes only non-defective units since the defective units were previously detected by a sensor (32)and then severed out as described with the aid of a control device (50). This fully automatically working apparatus (1)coils the processed use tape in a store (26)into a roll (40)which is suitable for further processing in a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Martin Bohn, Wolfgang Scheller
  • Patent number: 6171000
    Abstract: An assembly technique has been developed which reliably inserts the outer disk of an exposed film indicator into the crimp diameter of the cartridge end cap. This process gimbals the fixture containing the film cartridge, and rocks it in a manner that creates a circular wobble motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Merz, Edward B. Richter, Jeffrey Vanhall, Steven P. Vogel, Garry L. Wohlschlegel
  • Patent number: 6145279
    Abstract: A process for producing packaged products from a film roll includes the steps of detecting whether an elongate film is defective or not, detecting whether a spool is defective or not, detecting whether an assembled cartridge is defective or not, and detecting whether a case is defective or not. Various defective products detected in these steps are removed without being fed to subsequent steps. By thus detecting various defects in the process for producing packaged products from a film roll, high-quality packaged products can efficiently be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6141852
    Abstract: A photographic film cassette manufacturing apparatus, has a perforator for providing a long film with perforations and a cutter for cutting the long film into individual filmstrips to be contained in the film cassette driven synchronously with transport of the long film. A magnetic recording head for recording data on a magnetic recording layer of the long film is driven in synchronism with the perforator and the cutter. The long film is transported in a first direction before being cut into the individual filmstrips. In cooperation with the cutting, a trailing end of the individual filmstrip in the first direction is moved in a direction which is reverse to the first direction to secure the trailing end to the spool. A cassette shell consisting of a pair of shell halves is temporarily assembled by mating the shell halves together while containing a spool inside the shell halves, and thereafter opened to an extent that confining elements still confine the position of flanges of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimizu, Toshiro Esaki, Tadayoshi Shibata, Koichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6128885
    Abstract: A process for producing packaged products from a film roll includes the steps of detecting whether an elongate film is defective or not, detecting whether a spool is defective or not, detecting whether an assembled cartridge is defective or not, and detecting whether a case is defective or not. Various defective products detected in these steps are removed without being fed to subsequent steps. By thus detecting various defects in the process for producing packaged products from a film roll, high-quality packaged products can efficiently be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Karaki, Chiaki Suzuki, Yoshinobu Misumi, Takayuki Kambara, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6094810
    Abstract: A device for separating at least one item from a housing part includes a gripping device, a pushing-out means and, if appropriate, a sensing device for identifying the item. The separating device can be used expediently for installations for the disassembly of cassettes or cartridges for audio, video, data or film applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: EMTEC Magnetic GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schlatter, Norbert Muller, Gerhard Hoefer
  • Patent number: 6092352
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a film cartridge inserting mechanism has a case holder for holding case nonrotatably in an assembling position, a film cartridge holder for holding the film cartridge nonrotatably and inserting the film cartridge into the case, and a guide mechanism having a guide cylinder for guiding the film cartridge therethrough into the case, the guide cylinder being rotatable to hold a film leader of a rolled photographic film housed in the film cartridge, around an outer circumferential surface of the film cartridge. The film cartridge with the rolled photographic film housed therein can automatically be inserted smoothly into the case through the rotating guide cylinder. The packaging apparatus is relatively simple in structure because it has no mechanisms for rotating the film cartridge and the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koozoo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6061898
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a photo film unit has a dark box, which has supply openings into which parts are supplied, and an exit opening from which the body loaded with the photo film is exited. Intermediate cells of the dark box shield ambient light and include interlocked outer shutter plates and inner shutter plates which are disposed in the supply openings and the exit opening. A cassette supplying loader and a robot hand transfer the cassette into the dark box, while a leading tongue of the photo film is protruded from the cassette shell, with a remaining portion of the photo film contained as a roll. A roll forming fork device winds the photo film to a predetermined length from the cassette and forms the photo film into the roll. A photo film mounting mechanism swings the roll and the cassette shell together to change orientation thereof, and loads the roll and the cassette shell into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Suzuki, Yuzo Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 6047919
    Abstract: A method of attachment for a tape body which supports, on reel hubs, a tape body such as a leader tape, etc. to which a magnetic tape is connected. This attachment structure comprises a tape reel provided with a reel hub which takes cylindrical shape provided at the central portion thereof and a clamp member attached to the reel hub, and a tape body connected to the reel hub in the state where the end portion is supported by the clamp member and wound on the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. The tape body supported by the reel hub is such that the base end portion side serving as root portion of the drawing side from the reel hub is deformed in the winding direction onto the reel hub following the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. Deformation of the tape body is carried out by thermal deformation or pressure deformation, or thermal deformation and pressure deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Higuchi, Shinichi Abe, Hiroyuki Honma, Hiroshi Sekimukai, Masanori Abe