Robert Ralph Heinze

US Patent:

6378796, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Oct 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/679879

Inventors:

John Anthony Hamming - Laguna Niguel CA
Robert Ralph Heinze - San Clemente CA

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G03B 158

US Classification:

2423324, 2423321, 360 95

Abstract:

A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. A guide arm decouples from a hub filler as the hub filler is moved into a take-up reel. This decoupling eliminates problems that occur from small misalignments of the hub filler axle with the axis of the take-up reel. The axle and drive arm are decoupled from the hub filler by the axle being lifted out of the hub filler upon insertion of the hub filler into the take-up reel, allowing for the take-up reel to rotate freely during winding and unwinding of the tape without interference from the axle.

US Patent:

6452745, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Dec 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/212484

Inventors:

Hideaki Shiga - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Kiyoo Morita - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Jeffrey S. McAllister - Boise ID
Thomas R. Albrecht - San Jose CA
Robert Ralph Heinze - San Clemente CA

Assignee:

Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. - Mineamiashigara

International Classification:

G11B 2308

US Classification:

360132

Abstract:

A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves mated together and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is supported for rotation in the cartridge casing by the upper casing half. A memory holding structure holds a non-contact type memory element with its recording surface held substantially at 45Â to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing.

US Patent:

6499684, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

May 26, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/320238

Inventors:

James Eaton - Morgan Hill CA
Thomas R. Albrecht - San Jose CA
Robert R. Heinze - San Clemente CA
John A. Hamming - Laguna Niguel CA
Jeffrey S. McAllister - Boise ID
Thomas W. von Alten - Boise ID
Carl R. Hoerger - Boise ID
Geoffrey W. Mansbridge - Boise ID

Assignee:

Seagate Technology, Inc. - Scotts Valley CA
Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G11B 1566

US Classification:

2423324, 242582, 226 92, 360 95, 360137

Abstract:

A leader pin assembly for attachment to tape as a generic and space-efficient interface between tape and equipment which manipulates the tape, and a method for making the same. The leader pin assembly preferably includes a leader pin, an elastomer element, and a clip. The leader pin is barbell-shaped, having enlarged ends and at least one pair of flanges each spaced a distance from a respective enlarged end to define a pair of recesses and a center section of the leader pin. The center section of the leader pin is sized to permit tape to be wound around the center section, with the elastomer element surrounding the tape and with the clip snugly surrounding the elastomer element to keep the tape securely in place around the center section of the leader pin. The end surfaces of the leader pin may have an outward curve to ensure smooth movement across equipment surfaces during leader pin assembly manipulation. Also the edges of the leader pin may be radiused.

US Patent:

6563671, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Mar 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/086245

Inventors:

Kiyoo Morita - 2-12-1 Oogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP
Hideaki Shiga - 2-12-1 Oogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP
Daisuke Takahashi - 2-12-1 Oogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP
Yusuke Ishihara - 2-12-1 Oogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP
Seiji Tsuyuki - 2-12-1 Oogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP
Jeffrey S. McAllister - Boise ID 83713
Thomas Albrecht - San Jose CA 95123
Robert Ralph Heinze - San Clemente CA 92673

International Classification:

G11B 23107

US Classification:

360132, 2423381

Abstract:

A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge casing and a single reel which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation. The reel has a reel hub in the form of a cylindrical member which has a bottom wall and is provided with an opening and a stopper gear formed on the bottom wall. A brake member is provided with a brake gear and is movable up and down between an operative position where the brake gear is brought into engagement with the stopper gear to prevent rotation of the reel and a retracted position where the brake gear is disengaged from the stopper gear to permit rotation of the reel. The brake member is normally urged toward the operative position and moved to the retracted position by a pusher member of a tape drive system which acts on the brake member through the opening in the reel hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive system. A continuous wall portion is erected around the opening in the reel hub, and the brake member includes a horizontal portion and a continuous skirt portion which extends downward from the horizontal portion and is in contact with the continuous wall portion of the reel hub to close the opening together with the horizontal portion. The brake member is moved between the operative position and the retracted position with the skirt portion kept in cotact with the continuous wall portion of the reel hub.

US Patent:

6619577, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Apr 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/839232

Inventors:

John A. Hamming - Laguna Niguel CA
Kempton W. Redhead - Huntington Beach CA
Robert R. Heinze - San Clemente CA
Russell A. Bauer - Garden Grove CA
Patrick H. McCormack - Costa Mesa CA
Turguy Goker - Solana Beach CA

Assignee:

Seagate Removable Storage Solutions LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 1566

US Classification:

2423321, 2423324, 360 95

Abstract:

A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. Position sensors detect position of a guide arm as a tape loading mechanism loads and unloads tapes from a single reel tape cartridge. The position sensors are accurate and eliminate problems that occur from small misalignments of hub filler access with the access of the take-up reel. Further, the position sensors enable the hub filler to consistently attach to a leader pin at the end of the tape of the single reel tape cartridge without frequent malfunctions.

US Patent:

6621657, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Dec 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/026546

Inventors:

Patrick H. McCormack - Costa Mesa CA
Robert R. Heinze - San Clemente CA
Anthony T. Robertson - Tustin CA

Assignee:

Seagate Removable Storage Solutions LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 1568

US Classification:

360 965

Abstract:

In an automatic tape loader mechanism, for example for a digital tape storage system, the forces of registration springs intended to engage notches in a tape cartridge are de-rated prior to and/or during insertion of a tape cartridge into the loader. The preferred embodiment utilizes two registration springs mounted on a cartridge shuttle. When the shuttle is in its initial position for loading and unloading of the cartridge, the distal end of each spring engages a ramp formed on the support of the loader housing. This engagement deflects the springs away from the cartridge and thereby reduces the force necessary to insert the cartridge. To reduce scraping, the springs preferably carry rollers to engage the walls and registration notches of the cartridge.

US Patent:

6629656, Oct 7, 2003

Filed:

Mar 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/103857

Inventors:

Kiyoo Morita - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Hideaki Shiga - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Daisuke Takahashi - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Yusuke Ishihara - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Seiji Tsuyuki - Kanagawa-ken, JP
Jeffrey S. McAllister - Boise ID
Thomas Albrecht - San Jose CA
Robert Ralph Heinze - San Clemente CA

Assignee:

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. - Kanagawa-Ken

International Classification:

G11B 23107

US Classification:

2423324, 242899, 360132

Abstract:

A magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation and a leader pin fixed to the leading end portion of the magnetic tape. The leader pin is provided at its opposite ends with engagement portions which are brought into engagement with a tape drawing mechanism of a recording and reproducing system when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system. The end face of each engagement portion is provided with a recess at which the tape drawing mechanism chucks the leader pin.

US Patent:

6637691, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/864282

Inventors:

John Anthony Hamming - Laguna Niguel CA
Robert Ralph Heinze - San Clemente CA
Scott Louis Hanson - Costa Mesa CA
Kempton William Redhead - Huntington Beach CA
Walter Fehlmann - Fountain Valley CA
Russell Allen Bauer - Garden Grove CA
Turguy Goker - Solana Beach CA

Assignee:

Seagate Removable Storage Solutions, LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 1566

US Classification:

2423328, 360 95

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for loading tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. The hub filler is securely and releaseably attached to the take-up reel upon the hub filler entering the take-up reel. This attachment provides adequate securement between the hub filler and the take-up reel for the tape to be wrapped around the take-up reel during loading of the tape without the hub filler partially ejecting from the take-up reel. By preventing the hub filler from partially ejecting from the take-up reel, damage to the tape and the tape drive loading mechanism is mitigated. Upon unloading of the tape from the tape drive, the hub filler can be readily released from its attachment to the take-up reel.