Patents by Inventor Kazuyuki Hirata

Kazuyuki Hirata 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: 20180154416
    Abstract: A fixed die and a punch, which moves toward and away from the die, are provided. A series of bulges is formed in sheet metal between depressions and projections of the die and projections and depressions of the punch. In forming, the punch moves toward the die such that the sheet metal is pressed between first convex sections and second and third convex sections of the die and the punch, and subsequently the sheet metal is pressed between fourth convex sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20180154417
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal sheet includes forming a metal sheet to have curved portions that are alternately continuous in a corrugated pattern and angled sidewall portions between top parts of adjoining curved portions by use of a pair of forming dies that are moved close to or away from each other. The forming includes bending the metal sheet by pressing a position corresponding to a boundary part between the top part and the sidewall portion of the metal sheet by a convex curved surface of the forming die by moving the pair of forming dies close to each other and thereafter forming the sidewall portions by compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Harutaka ODA
  • Publication number: 20180154423
    Abstract: A press die having a shaping face includes a holding frame, die members, a reference member, and a pressing bolt. Each of the die members includes a first surface that configures the shaping face. The die members are aligned in the holding frame. The reference member is arranged on an inner side surface of the holding frame to position the die members. The pressing bolt is supported by the holding frame on a side opposite to the reference member. The pressing bolt presses the die members against the reference member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Harutaka ODA
  • Patent number: 9962751
    Abstract: A plurality of protruding portions is formed in a metal plate material through a plurality of steps by use of forming tools each of which includes a die and a punch. An arrangement pitch between a concave portion and a convex portion for use in forming the protruding portions in the die and the punch that are used in a post-process is made narrower than an arrangement pitch between a concave portion and a convex portion for use in forming the protruding portions in the die and the punch that are used in a pre-process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9962754
    Abstract: A punched piece is formed by punching a metal plate by a punching portion including by a die and a punch. Before the punching, a preceding process portion provided in a stage previous to the punching portion forms a projection at an inner peripheral portion of a punch area of the metal plate that faces the die. Forming the projection cancels formation of shear droop at an edge of the punched piece in forming of the punched piece by punching of the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20180093481
    Abstract: There is provided with a cartridge comprising a liquid supply portion; a contact portion that is located on a +Z-axis direction side of the liquid supply portion and that is arranged to contact with an electrical connecting element; and a positioning structure that is located between the liquid supply portion and the contact portion in a Z-axis direction. The liquid supply portion is configured to receive a first external force in a ?Y-axis direction from the liquid introducing structure when the liquid supply portion is connected with the liquid introducing structure. The contact portion is configured to receive a second external force in a direction including a ?Y-axis direction component from the electrical connecting element when the contact portion comes into contact with the electrical connecting element. This configuration suppresses position misalignment of the cartridge or a connector to a mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Seiko Espon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Masahiro KARASAWA, Hiroshi NOSE, Takeshi KOMAKI, Naoki NAITO, Yuji AOKI, Tomoji SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9809034
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid to a liquid inlet of a liquid jet apparatus. The liquid supply unit includes a liquid housing part configured to house a liquid, a liquid outlet configured to draw the liquid from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part, and a filter provided upstream of the liquid outlet in a channel of the liquid that is drawn from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part via the liquid outlet. The filter includes a first filter and a second filter that are constituted by a plurality of fibers laminated in a flow direction of the liquid. The first filter is provided upstream of the second filter in the channel of the liquid, and the first filter and the second filter differ in coarseness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Masahiro Karasawa, Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9757787
    Abstract: A metal plate stamping method is provided for cutting a metal plate, on which a bulging portion is formed through stamping, at a cutting area that is defined in a portion other than the bulging portion. The method includes forming a bead on the opposite side of the cutting area from the bulging portion and crushing the bead prior to the cutting of the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9735436
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes a thin metal plate, protrusions that are formed on the metal plate to be close to each other, and gas passages formed by the protrusions. Each gas passage has a first opening corresponding to an inlet and a second opening corresponding to an outlet. The gas passages include a first gas passage, which has a relatively low pressure loss of gas flow, and a second gas passage, which has a relatively high pressure loss of gas flow. The area of the first opening of the first gas passage is set to be smaller than the area of the first opening of the second gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9656314
    Abstract: A press die includes block rows arranged in parallel in a frame. Each block row is formed by die blocks. The block rows include a first block row and a second block row that are adjacent to each other. A joint portion between adjacent two blocks belonging to the first block row faces a side surface of a die block belonging to the second block row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9630229
    Abstract: A protruding portion is formed in a metal plate material by use of a plurality of molding tools each of which has a die and a punch. In a first step, an initial protruding portion is formed in the metal plate material by use of a first molding tool. In this step, a top of the initial protruding portion is formed to be thinner than other parts. In a second step, a sidewall of the initial protruding portion is rolled out by use of a second molding tool, and the protruding portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirata, Takuma Watanabe, Hidekazu Sahara
  • Patent number: 9587679
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing in which a rolling element is retained in each of retaining openings formed in a retainer and method for manufacturing the bearing are provided. Each retaining opening is defined by a pair of inner side faces facing each other, and a pair of inner end faces facing each other. In the manufacturing method, with a support die being brought into contact with one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces of one of the retaining openings, the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the retainer are pressed by an outer punch and an inner punch. Accordingly, on at least one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces, a first retaining piece and a second retaining piece for preventing the rolling element from falling off are formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the retainer, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9550227
    Abstract: Two press dies are formed by arranging a plurality of segments side by side to form die faces. The press dies are used to press a plate member. First and second joint portions are positioned differently between one of the press dies and the other of the press dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Publication number: 20170008058
    Abstract: A method for forming bulging portions on a metal plate by performing cold-pressing on the metal plate is provided. The method includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, a pre-formed body including pre-formed bulging portions is formed with a first die. Each pre-formed bulging portion includes sidewalls. Each sidewall includes dents. In the second step, the sidewalls are pressed by a second die so that the dents of the pre-formed body disappear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20160361745
    Abstract: A metal plate punching method for forming a strip portion by punching a metal plate via shearing includes a former step for forming a first side of the strip portion in the metal plate by punching the metal plate and a latter step for forming the strip portion by forming a second side of the strip portion in the metal plate by punching the metal plate while retaining the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20160361744
    Abstract: A press die apparatus includes a die block and a punch. The die block includes a first shaping face, which is constituted by first die segments. The punch includes a second shaping face, which is constituted by second die segments. Any two first die segments that are adjacent to each other contact each other at first contacting surfaces. Any two second die segments that are adjacent to each other contact each other at second contacting surfaces. The first contacting surface of each of two first die segments that contact each other has a first communicating groove, which communicates with the first shaping face. The second contacting surface of each of two second die segments that contact each other has a second communicating groove, which communicates with the second shaping face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20160361751
    Abstract: A heat sink having a base and a projecting portion that extends from the base is manufactured by cold pressing a metal component. In the first process, a preparatory compact is formed by pressing the metal component with a first die including a first die block and a first punch. The preparatory compact has a depression on a surface of the metal component that faces the first punch and a protrusion on a surface of the metal component that faces the first die block. In the second process, by pressing the preparatory compact with the second die including a second punch and a second die block, the depression is crushed and the protrusion is pushed out toward the back of the hole of the second die block to form the projecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki HIRATA
  • Patent number: 9511576
    Abstract: A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive portion is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirata, Shirou Fujimura, Hajime Banno
  • Publication number: 20160346256
    Abstract: A compound of formula [I-W]: wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takaki Maeba, Katsuya Maeda, Masayuki Kotoku, Kazuyuki Hirata, Noriyoshi Seki, Hiroshi Yamanaka, Takayuki Sakai, Shintaro Hirashima, Shingo Obika, Makoto Shiozaki, Masahiro Yokota
  • Publication number: 20160311228
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid to a liquid inlet of a liquid jet apparatus. The liquid supply unit includes a liquid housing part configured to house a liquid, a liquid outlet configured to draw the liquid from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part, and a filter provided upstream of the liquid outlet in a channel of the liquid that is drawn from inside the liquid housing part to outside the liquid housing part via the liquid outlet. The filter includes a first filter and a second filter that are constituted by a plurality of fibers laminated in a flow direction of the liquid. The first filter is provided upstream of the second filter in the channel of the liquid, and the first filter and the second filter differ in coarseness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Yuji AOKI, Masahiro KARASAWA, Kazuyuki HIRATA