Patents by Inventor Chiaki Fukui

Chiaki Fukui has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180298927
    Abstract: In an interior of a cylinder tube of a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston unit is provided, which is displaced along an axial direction under the supply of a pressure fluid. The piston unit includes a disk shaped plate body, which is connected to one end of a piston rod, and a ring body connected to an outer edge portion of the plate body. The plate body is connected to the piston rod by plural second rivets, which are punched in an axial direction with respect to the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunaga SUZUKI, Chiaki FUKUI, Makoto YAEGASHI
  • Patent number: 10011004
    Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism of a clamp apparatus includes first link arms, which are pivotally supported for rotation on ends of first and second piston rods, and second link arms, which connect other ends of the first link arms to respective ends on one end side of first and second clamp arms. Further, first rollers, which are provided on the one end of the first link arms, are guided in a horizontal direction along guide grooves of first guide members, and second rollers, which are provided on the other ends of the first link arms and the second link arms, are guided in a vertical direction along guide grooves of second guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Hideki Sasaki, Masaharu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20180172036
    Abstract: In a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston unit, which is displaced along an axial direction under the supply of a pressure fluid, is disposed in the interior of a cylinder tube of the fluid pressure cylinder. The piston unit includes a disk shaped plate body connected to one end of a piston rod, and a ring body connected to an outer edge portion of the plate body. The plate body is formed from an elastically deformable metal material, and by the plate body becoming elastically deformed and flexing when the ring body of the piston unit abuts against the head cover or the rod cover, shocks applied with respect to the piston unit are buffered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga SUZUKI, Chiaki FUKUI, Makoto YAEGASHI
  • Patent number: 9999963
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus includes a support body that projects in a sideways direction of a body, together with a clamp arm, which is disposed rotatably in facing relation to the support body. On the support body, a support member, which extends in a horizontal direction, is disposed detachably with respect to a coupling hole of the body, whereas a connecting body, which interconnects a pair of arm members, is disposed detachably on an end of the clamp arm. A clamp release mechanism, which releases a clamped state when the clamp arm is locked, is disposed in the body, and is configured to press a joint of a driving force transmission mechanism that is accommodated in the body toward the side of a drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Takeda, Chiaki Fukui, Takeshi Seo
  • Publication number: 20180141176
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamp device. The clamp device is provided with a driving force transmission mechanism, which transmits driving force from a drive unit to clamp arms. The driving force transmission mechanism converts the rectilinear movement of a piston rod of the drive unit into: a first operation, in which the clamp arms rotate while moving in directions toward or away from each other; and a second operation, in which the clamp arms move in parallel in directions toward or away from each other with gripping surfaces in a mutually parallel state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Takeshi SEO
  • Publication number: 20180135664
    Abstract: In an interior of a cylinder tube of a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston unit is displaced along an axial direction under the supply of a pressure fluid, and the piston unit is connected to one end of a piston rod. Further, a rod cover is disposed on another end of the cylinder tube, and in the center thereof, a cylindrical holder is provided that displaceably supports the piston rod. The holder is fixed integrally by a plurality of first rivets, in a state in which a flange member, which is expanded radially outward, abuts against an inner wall surface of the rod cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga SUZUKI, Chiaki FUKUI, Makoto YAEGASHI
  • Publication number: 20180135663
    Abstract: In a fluid pressure cylinder a piston unit, which is displaced along an axial direction under the supply of a pressure fluid, is disposed in an interior of a cylinder tube of the fluid pressure cylinder. The piston unit includes a disk shaped plate body connected to one end of a piston rod, and a ring body connected to an outer edge portion of the plate body. The ring body is connected together with the plate body by a plurality of third rivets that are punched in an axial direction with respect to the plate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga SUZUKI, Chiaki FUKUI, Makoto YAEGASHI
  • Publication number: 20180135662
    Abstract: In a piston unit of a fluid pressure cylinder a plurality of magnets are disposed through holes provided in a ring body. The magnets are disposed in facing relation to detection sensors that are mounted on connecting rods, and are provided in the same quantity as the connecting rods. Further, a guide rod extending from a head cover to a rod cover is inserted through the interior of the ring body. When the piston unit is displaced along the cylinder tube, rotational displacement is restricted by the piston unit being displaced along the guide rod, whereby the magnets are retained to face toward the connecting rods at all times. Therefore, the position of the piston unit is detected by the detection sensors through the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga SUZUKI, Chiaki FUKUI, Makoto YAEGASHI
  • Patent number: 9969060
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus includes a pair of first and second clamp arms supported rotatably on a body. The clamp apparatus also includes a manual release mechanism capable of manually releasing a clamped state in the case that an output from a drive unit to the first and second clamp arms is stopped and the clamped state of a workpiece is locked. The manual release mechanism includes a release lever disposed rotatably on a first plate body. By an operator operating the release lever to thereby rotate the release lever, a block body of a driving force transmission mechanism is pressed and moved upwardly, and pressing forces applied to the first and second clamp arms in widthwise outside directions thereof by a pair of rollers, are released. Consequently, gripping members of the first and second clamp arms are rotated in directions away from each other to thereby cause an unclamped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Kazuyoshi Takahashi, Hideki Sasaki, Masaharu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20180029197
    Abstract: A clamp device is equipped with a clamp body, a piston rod, a link mechanism, a detection mechanism for detecting a state of rotary motion of a clamp arm, and a determination unit for determining whether a state of clamping exists. The detection mechanism includes a first proximity sensor, and a knuckle joint having a first sloped surface. The determination unit, on the basis of a comparison of an output signal from the first proximity sensor to a clamp threshold value, determines whether a state of clamping exists, and on the basis of a comparison to a clamping force generation threshold value, determines whether a state of generation of clamping force exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Takeshi SEO, Jiro MANDOKORO, Koichi KATSUMATA
  • Publication number: 20180029196
    Abstract: A clamp device is provided with a detection section which detects the pivotal position of a clamp arm. The detection section has: a cam section which is provided on a pivot shaft, includes a predetermined cam surface, and is formed so that the radial distance from the center of the pivot shaft to the cam surface varies circumferentially; and a proximity sensor which detects the position of the cam surface which varies as the pivot shaft pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Takeshi SEO, Jiro MANDOKORO, Koichi KATSUMATA
  • Patent number: 9765800
    Abstract: A piston main body in a piston assembly of a fluid pressure cylinder includes a first piston member and a second piston member including a plate-shaped member. The first piston member and the second piston member are joined in a state overlapping in the axial direction of a piston rod. The second piston member is not provided with a hole that passes through in the plate thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chiaki Fukui
  • Publication number: 20170072540
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus includes a support body that projects in a sideways direction of a body, together with a clamp arm, which is disposed rotatably in facing relation to the support body. On the support body, a support member, which extends in a horizontal direction, is disposed detachably with respect to a coupling hole of the body, whereas a connecting body, which interconnects a pair of arm members, is disposed detachably on an end of the clamp arm. A clamp release mechanism, which releases a clamped state when the clamp arm is locked, is disposed in the body, and is configured to press a joint of a driving force transmission mechanism that is accommodated in the body toward the side of a drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi TAKEDA, Chiaki FUKUI, Takeshi SEO
  • Publication number: 20170036296
    Abstract: This welding gun (10A) is provided with a driving-force transmission mechanism (18) which converts linear displacement of an output unit of a driving unit (14) into rotational displacement of a clamping arm (16). The driving-force transmission mechanism (18) is provided with: an inclined part (94) which is integrally displaced with the linear displacement of the output unit, and which is inclined with respect to the displacement direction of the output unit; and a part (96) to be pressed which is pressed by the inclined part (94). The clamping arm (16) rotates in accordance with movement of the part (96) to be pressed which is pressed by the displaced inclined part (94), and generates clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kenichi TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20160354902
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus includes a pair of first and second clamp arms supported rotatably on a body. The clamp apparatus also includes a manual release mechanism capable of manually releasing a clamped state in the case that an output from a drive unit to the first and second clamp arms is stopped and the clamped state of a workpiece is locked. The manual release mechanism includes a release lever disposed rotatably on a first plate body. By an operator operating the release lever to thereby rotate the release lever, a block body of a driving force transmission mechanism is pressed and moved upwardly, and pressing forces applied to the first and second clamp arms in widthwise outside directions thereof by a pair of rollers, are released. Consequently, gripping members of the first and second clamp arms are rotated in directions away from each other to thereby cause an unclamped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Masaharu KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9409282
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus is equipped with a body, and a drive unit having a piston displaced under the supply of a pressure fluid. A clamp arm is disposed rotatably on the body. In addition, a piston rod of the drive unit is connected detachably with respect to a displaceable body of a driving force transmission mechanism which is disposed in the interior of the body. Upon detachment of a connector of the piston rod from a connecting recess of the displaceable body, the state of connection between the drive unit and the driving force transmission mechanism is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Youji Takakuwa
  • Publication number: 20160136789
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus including two pairs of first and second clamp arms, which are supported rotatably with respect to a body and are disposed mutually in parallel. First and second cam members including respective cam surfaces are provided on ends of the first and second clamp arms. The first cam members are pressed by rollers upon lowering of a block body under a driving action of a first cylinder that makes up a drive unit. The first clamp arms are rotated to assume a clamped state. The second cam members are pressed by rollers upon lowering of a block body under a driving action of a second cylinder of the drive unit, whereby the second clamp arms are rotated to assume a clamped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Masaharu KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160129559
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus including first and second clamp arms, which are supported rotatably on a body, with a cover being installed to cover outer sides of the body. The cover includes openings through which portions of the first and second clamp arms are inserted and rotatably operated. An unloading tray is arranged in the body at a position below the openings in the direction of gravity. Spatter, which invades into the clamp apparatus from the openings when a welding operation is carried out on a workpiece that is clamped by the first and second clamp arms, is deposited on the unloading tray, and the spatter is eliminated by taking out the unloading tray to the exterior of the clamp apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Masah1aru KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150352692
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus is equipped with first and second clamp arms supported rotatably with respect to a body, and a drive unit having a pair of first and second pistons displaced under the supply of a pressure fluid. A driving force of the drive unit is transmitted to the first and second clamp arms through knuckle joints, which are connected to first and second piston rods, power-boost levers, and link arms. The power-boost levers are formed such that the length from a support pin toward the knuckle joint is longer than the length from the support pin toward the link arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Masaharu KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150352691
    Abstract: A clamping device has a pair of first and second clamping arms rotatably supported with respect to a body, and a cam member having a cam surface is removably provided at one end of each of the first and second clamping arms. A pair of rollers pivotally supported by a block body constituting a drive unit are each in contact with the cam member. By a descent of the block body under the driving action of the drive unit, the cam surface of the cam member is pressed by the rollers, and the cam surface inclined in the displacement direction of the block body and recessed in a cross-sectional arc shape is pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiaki FUKUI, Kazuyoshi TAKAHASHI, Hideki SASAKI, Masaharu KOBAYASHI