Patents by Inventor Koichi Amaya

Koichi Amaya 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).

  • Patent number: 11390021
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product based on repetition of a step of molding of a powder layer 3 and sintering with a laser beam or an electron beam, wherein in a lattice region 1, a sintered layer 41 is molded by scanning the beam having a predetermined spot diameter several times in one side direction at a predetermined interval, after which a sintered layer 42 is again molded by the same scanning in the other side direction which crosses the one side direction, and in an outer frame region 2, a continuous sintered layer 43 is molded by scanning the beam having the predetermined spot diameter over the entire lattice region 1 that is surrounded by an inner line and an outer line, and is also achieved by a three-dimensional shaped product obtained by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corp.
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Midorikawa Tetsushi, Seiichi Tomita, Ryuzo Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220097297
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product based on repetition of a step of molding of a powder layer 3 and sintering with a laser beam or an electron beam, wherein in a lattice region 1, a sintered layer 41 is molded by scanning the beam having a predetermined spot diameter several times in one side direction at a predetermined interval, after which a sintered layer 42 is again molded by the same scanning in the other side direction which crosses the one side direction, and in an outer frame region 2, a continuous sintered layer 43 is molded by scanning the beam having the predetermined spot diameter over the entire lattice region 1 that is surrounded by an inner line and an outer line, and is also achieved by a three-dimensional shaped product obtained by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Midorikawa Tetsushi, Seiichi Tomita, Ryuzo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11141920
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product that employs a shaping method based on dispersion of powder by a squeegee and irradiation onto a powder layer with a laser beam or electron beam, includes the following steps: 1. Setting an upper limit value and lower limit value for the amount of circulation passing through an anemometer, and an adjusting value within this range; 2. Measuring the amount of circulation and effecting control as follows: (1) When the measured value is between the upper limit value and lower limit value, the rotational speed of the blower fan is maintained, and (2) When the measured value has fallen below the lower limit value due to clogging of a filter, the rotational speed of the fan is increased and the rotational speed is selected at the stage where the measured value has reached the adjusting value, and the rotational speed is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida, Seiichi Tomita, Akira Takizawa, Akishige Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20210255599
    Abstract: A machine tool operation monitoring system which detects an abnormal operation of a machine tool 1 and in which when the operation of each machine tool 1 exceeds a normal operating range of each machine tool 1 and/or when a moving state of a constituent portion of the machine tool 1 and a material exceeds a normal range, wherein the machine tool 1 breaking out an operation abnormality is identified by any one of the following operations: a. monitoring an image obtained by projecting reflected light from a reflecting display plate 22 provided for each machine tool 1 onto a camera 31; and b. monitoring a difference in projecting direction of emitted light from a lamp 21 provided for each machine tool 1 onto an optical sensor 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Yasunori Takezawa, Kazuya Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11077613
    Abstract: The stop time of a whole apparatus caused by planning of shaping, maintenance, replacement of a material, or the like is shortened. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a plurality of shaping chambers, at least one material supplier that supplies a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table in each of the shaping chambers, at least one light beam irradiator that irradiates the material with a light beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier and the light beam irradiator. If the material supplier supplies the material onto one of the shaping tables, the controller controls the light beam irradiator to perform irradiation of the light beam onto the other one of the shaping tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Toshihiko Kato, Hideto Matsubara, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11073816
    Abstract: A machine tool operation monitoring system which detects an abnormal operation of a machine tool 1 and in which when the operation of each machine tool 1 exceeds a normal operating range of each machine tool 1 and/or when a moving state of a constituent portion of the machine tool 1 and a material exceeds a normal range, wherein the machine tool 1 breaking out an operation abnormality is identified by any one of the following operations: a. monitoring an image obtained by projecting reflected light from a reflecting display plate 22 provided for each machine tool 1 onto a camera 31; and b. monitoring a difference in projecting direction of emitted light from a lamp 21 provided for each machine tool 1 onto an optical sensor 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Yasunori Takezawa, Kazuya Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20210213537
    Abstract: The three-dimensional shaping method and apparatus employs a plurality of galvano scanners 3 that carry out scanning of laser beams 7 along two-dimensional directions on orthogonal coordinates or cylindrical coordinates by reflection from first mirrors 31 that oscillate on rotation axes 30 that are perpendicular to transmission directions of the laser beams 7 that have been transmitted through dynamic focus lenses 2, and second mirrors 32 that oscillate on rotation axes 30 that are perpendicular to the rotation axes 30 of the first mirrors 31 and are in horizontal directions, with oscillation ranges freely adjustable based on control of an oscillation, and having freely selectable regions on a sintered surface 6 at the focal points of the laser beams 7 irradiated in slanted directions with respect to a surface of a table 4, or locations in their vicinity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida, Seiichi Tomita, Shota Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10926469
    Abstract: This invention provides a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that can remove the influence of a gas flow between the irradiation positions by a plurality of irradiators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Tetsushi Midorikawa, Masaaki Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20210001557
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product that employs a shaping method based on dispersion of powder by a squeegee and irradiation onto a powder layer with a laser beam or electron beam, includes the following steps: 1. Setting an upper limit value and lower limit value for the amount of circulation passing through an anemometer, and an adjusting value within this range; 2. Measuring the amount of circulation and effecting control as follows: (1) When the measured value is between the upper limit value and lower limit value, the rotational speed of the blower fan is maintained, and (2) When the measured value has fallen below the lower limit value due to clogging of a filter, the rotational speed of the fan is increased and the rotational speed is selected at the stage where the measured value has reached the adjusting value, and the rotational speed is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida, Seiichi Tomita, Akira Takizawa, Akishige Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10596654
    Abstract: In metal powder processing equipment where metal powder is sequentially laminated on a table inside a chamber and laser beam melting or electron beam melting, and shaping by a cutting tool subsequent to the melting are performed, unmolded powder remaining at the time of the melting and cut powder generated by the cutting can be scattered by generating air flow with respect to the cutting tool from either side of a main shaft or a tool holder. As a result, life of the cutting tool is prolonged and quality of a cut surface can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Toshihiko Kato, Hideto Matsubara, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10500791
    Abstract: A system of this invention is a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that suppresses, in advance, a squeezing blade from getting caught on a surface of a laminated and fabricated object. The three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system includes a laminating and fabricating unit that includes a squeezing blade configured to spread a laminating material on an upper layer of a laminated and fabricated object, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the laminating material, and fabricates each layer of the laminated and fabricated object as an aggregate of cell regions, and a laminating and fabricating controller that controls the laminating and fabricating unit such that a scanning direction in which the irradiator irradiates the laminating material in the cell region changes with respect to a moving direction of the squeezing blade during laminating and fabricating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEACH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Tetsushi Midorikawa, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10442136
    Abstract: This invention provides a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that shortens the scanning time of a divided scanning region and shortens the fabricating time of three-dimensional laminating and fabricating. The three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system includes a laminating and fabricating unit that includes at least one irradiator configured to irradiate a laminating material and fabricates each layer of a laminated and fabricated object made of the laminating material as an aggregate of cell regions, and a laminating and fabricating controller that controls the laminating and fabricating unit such that the irradiator irradiates the laminating material in each of the cell regions by performing spiral scanning along sides of a scanning region that is used to irradiate the cell regions by the irradiator and has a shape including at least five vertices with an interior angle of not less than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Tetsushi Midorikawa, Masaaki Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20180229431
    Abstract: The stop time of a whole apparatus caused by planning of shaping, maintenance, replacement of a material, or the like is shortened. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a plurality of shaping chambers, at least one material supplier that supplies a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table in each of the shaping chambers, at least one light beam irradiator that irradiates the material with a light beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier and the light beam irradiator. If the material supplier supplies the material onto one of the shaping tables, the controller controls the light beam irradiator to perform irradiation of the light beam onto the other one of the shaping tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi AMAYA, Toshihiko KATO, Hideto MATSUBARA, Mitsuyoshi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180215102
    Abstract: This invention provides a laminating and fabricating control apparatus for correcting a laser irradiation position in correspondence with a shift of the laser irradiation position during laminating and fabricating by an optical fabricating unit. The laminating and fabricating control apparatus controls a laminating and fabricating unit that includes a squeezing blade configured to spread a laminating material on an upper layer of a laminated and fabricated object, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the laminating material, to fabricate the laminated and fabricated object. The laminating and fabricating control apparatus includes a position shift acquirer that acquires a shift of an irradiation position of irradiation light on a surface of the squeezing blade when receiving the irradiation light from the irradiator, and an irradiation position corrector that corrects the irradiation position by the irradiator based on the shift of the irradiation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi AMAYA, Toshihiko KATOH, Hideto MATSUBARA, Mitsuyoshi YOSHIDA, Takeshi YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20180215095
    Abstract: This invention provides a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that can remove the influence of a gas flow between the irradiation positions by a plurality of irradiators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi AMAYA, Tetsushi MIDORIKAWA, Masaaki KAWAJI
  • Publication number: 20180215101
    Abstract: This invention provides a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that shortens the scanning time of a divided scanning region and shortens the fabricating time of three-dimensional laminating and fabricating. The three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system includes a laminating and fabricating unit that includes at least one irradiator configured to irradiate a laminating material and fabricates each layer of a laminated and fabricated object made of the laminating material as an aggregate of cell regions, and a laminating and fabricating controller that controls the laminating and fabricating unit such that the irradiator irradiates the laminating material in each of the cell regions by performing spiral scanning along sides of a scanning region that is used to irradiate the cell regions by the irradiator and has a shape including at least five vertices with an interior angle of not less than 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDTIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi AMAYA, Tetsushi MIDORIKAWA, Masaaki KAWAJI
  • Publication number: 20180085999
    Abstract: A system of this invention is a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that suppresses, in advance, a squeezing blade from getting caught on a surface of a laminated and fabricated object. The three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system includes a laminating and fabricating unit that includes a squeezing blade configured to spread a laminating material on an upper layer of a laminated and fabricated object, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the laminating material, and fabricates each layer of the laminated and fabricated object as an aggregate of cell regions, and a laminating and fabricating controller that controls the laminating and fabricating unit such that a scanning direction in which the irradiator irradiates the laminating material in the cell region changes with respect to a moving direction of the squeezing blade during laminating and fabricating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi AMAYA, Tetsushi MIDORIKAWA, Takeshi YAMADA
  • Patent number: 9902030
    Abstract: A method of stopping vibration of a columnar work during processing thereof, includes the steps of providing a cylindrical columnar work having an outer circumferential surface divided into a non-processed region and at least two recessed processed regions with a circumferential cross-section forming a perimeter including two spaced apart non-processed perimetric segments separated by two spaced apart processed perimetric segments, providing a vibration stop including only two holding parts having arc shaped surfaces, locating the columnar work between the arc shaped surfaces of the holding parts adjacent the perimeter with each processed region radially inward, orienting the columnar work such that each arc shaped surface contacts the outer circumferential surface at both spaced apart non-processed perimetric segments with one processed perimetric segment located therebetween, each arc shaped surface, and holding the columnar work with the holding parts to prevent vibration of the columnar work during proces
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Syuji Iizuka, Kiyotaka Iwai
  • Patent number: 9849513
    Abstract: A tail stock moving mechanism, in which a tail stock that holds a work with a predetermined pressure force is moved by a ball screw and in which control required for holding the work with the predetermined pressure force is implemented, is accomplished in a predetermined order wherein, the tall stock 1 holds a position of the work 5 and is supported by a ball screw 2, torque generated by a drive motor 3 that drives the ball screw 2 is detected, and when the torque reaches a predetermined reference value, then operation of a brake 4 to limit rotation of the ball screw 2 and cutting off of an input from a power supply to the drive motor 3 are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Kiyotaka Iwai, Syuji Iizuka
  • Patent number: 9844915
    Abstract: Laminate molding equipment includes a molding part with a molding table on which a three-dimensional shape molded object is molded, a powder layer forming part supplying material powder on the molding table to form a powder layer, a light beam radiating part radiating a light beam to the powder layer to form a solidified layer, the powder layer forming part includes powder laminating equipment sequentially forming the powder layer on the molding table by moving along a predetermined direction at the molding table, and a moving position detecting unit detecting a moving position along the predetermined direction at the powder laminating equipment, and the control part recognizes the moldable region by output from the moving position detecting unit, and controls the light beam radiating part, and scans the position of the light beam by adjusting angles of two scan mirrors according to processing data of controlling the scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Matsuura Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Maeda, Hiroshi Arakawa, Yasunori Takezawa, Toshihiko Kato, Koichi Amaya