Sony Corporation

Kenichi Fukahori

Hideki Ito

Shuji Sato

Shin Iima

Masaki Shimoha

Mutsuko Narita

Satoru Matsuda

Yoshio Kondo

Akihiro Uetake

Hiroshi Nakazawa

Masato Yamaguchi

Sunao Kushiro

Yoichirou Senshu

Teruhisa Kamachi

Tsuyoshi Ono

Keisuke Ikegami

Disclosed is a virtual-space providing apparatus, which is connected to a user terminal via a network, and which provides the user terminal with various kinds of services through a three-dimensional virtual space created in the network, the virtual-space providing apparatus includes a virtual room providing server for imitating a real room of a user using the user terminal, and for providing the virtual room, which can be browsed using the user terminal connected via the network, on the three-dimensional virtual space; virtual store providing server for providing the user terminal connected via the network with the virtual store, the virtual store selling virtual commodities imitating real commodities, on the three-dimensional virtual space; and a benefit-information transmitting medium, wherein, when the user purchases a virtual commodity in the virtual store provided by the virtual store providing server using the user terminal, benefit information showing benefit of purchasing the virtual commodity is transmitted to the user terminal.

Virtual-space providing apparatus, virtual-space providing system, and virtual-space providing method

In a digital magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a magnetic head comprises a plurality of head chips mounted closely together in parallel with each other on a rotary drum member which is rotatably supported by dynamic pressure bearing in which a sleeve and a shaft inserted therein are relatively rotatably supported by fluid under pressure therebetween.

Rotary magnetic head drum with fluid bearing and with head chips mounted

A thermal printer accepting an ink ribbon cartridge includes a chassis, a thermal head secured to the chassis and a platen roller which is rotatably supported in the chassis and swingably movable relative to the thermal head. The platen roller is rotated by a first platen driving mechanism and is moved toward and away from the thermal head by a second platen driving mechanism. When the platen roller is moved to contact the thermal head via an ink ribbon intervened therebetween, an image is printed on a printing medium fed between the platen roller and the ink ribbon. The printer accomplished aligned overprinting on the printing medium via a paper supply mode, a printing mode, a paper retract mode and a paper discharge mode effected by the first and second platen driving mechanisms.

Multi-pass thermal printer

A thermal printer includes a chassis, a thermal head secured to the chassis and a platen roller which is rotatably supported in the chassis and movable relative to the thermal head. The platen roller is rotated by first platen driving mechanism, while being moved toward and away from the thermal head by second platen driving mechanism. When the platen roller is moved to contact with the thermal head via an ink ribbon intervened therebetween, a data or image is printed on a printing medium fed between the platen roller and the ink ribbon.

Color thermal printer

A video printing apparatus including a thermal head and accommodating an ink ribbon cartridge having a plurality of color blocks. The apparatus has a subsidiary head which records an identification mark on the color blocks when used in a printing operation. The identification mark is recorded on a predetermined portion of the color block which is not used in a printing operation. A sensor is provided for detecting the identification mark recorded on the used color blocks.

Printer and ink ribbon cartridge having color block detection means

A video camera with a tape deck mechanism in which the rotary head drum and tape loading device is inserted completely into a dead space in the tape cassette, the lid of the cassette is then closed and the recording/playback operation performed. The tape deck mechanism is reduced in size by having multiple chassis that slide into and fold over each other with the tape cassette contained therein. The tape deck mechanism operates in conjunction with a special tape cassette to increase the available dead space by moving the cassette tape reels apart when the head drum chassis slides into another chassis holding the cassette. The lid of the cassette is opened with a mechanism that does require pressure against the cassette to overcome the lid-closing spring of the cassette. The tape deck mechanism can be arranged with the known video camera electronics and optics in various configurations to provide a compact video camera.

Compact magnetic recording and reproducing device having movable reels

A video tape recorder having a tape tensioning mechanism for tensioning a magnetic tape drawn out of a tape cassette. The tape tensioning mechanism has a tensioning arm rotatably mounted on a movable Chassis, a tensioning pin for contacting the tape to tension the tape when the tape has been loaded in a predetermined tape path, a tightening lever movably mounted on the movable chassis, and a tension spring for urging the tensioning arm in a direction of rotation to bring the tensioning pin into contact with the tape. A pusher is fixedly mounted on a fixed chassis for pushing the tightening lever to tighten the tension spring substantially at the same time that the magnetic tape is loaded in the predetermined tape path. When the magnetic tape is not loaded in the tape path, the tightening lever is released from the pusher to loosen the tension spring.

Tape tensioning mechanism with tape loading-activated tensioning pin

A color video printing apparatus includes a first sensor detecting a recording medium and determining whether the recording medium is a thermalsensible one, and a second sensor detecting a color ink ribbon cartridge which accommodates a color ink ribbon therein. The apparatus also includes a system controller which controls driving operations of a thermal head and the color ink ribbon depending upon detection results obtained by the first and second sensors, so that a video image is printed on the recording medium in multicolor or monochromatic printing mode.

Color video printer having a multicolor printing mode and a

A ribbon cartridge comprises a substantially cylindrical cartridge body comprised of upper and lower casing halves. A ribbon supply reel is rotatably housed in the cartridge body having an ink ribbon wound therearound. Affixed to a leading edge of the ink ribbon, a pull sheet is attached which includes an opening allowing easy chucking of the ribbon cartridge in a printer. Also provided on the pull sheet are cut-out portions so arranged as to prevent creasing of the ink ribbon during use. When the ink ribbon has been completely used, the used ribbon is retracted back into the cartridge for easy removal from the printer.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Kenichi Fukahori