Patents by Inventor Morihiro Imamura
Morihiro Imamura 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).
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Patent number: 11485584Abstract: A tire conveying apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying a tire, a position sensor, and a controller for controlling the conveyor. The controller includes a determination unit which determines whether or not the tire is positioned within an allowable area for a reference area set in a conveyance path of the conveyor, based on a detection result of the position sensor, and a center conveyor control unit which drives the conveyor such that the tire is positioned within the allowable area, if a determination that the tire is not positioned within the allowable area is made.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Tatsuya Ueda, Morihiro Imamura, Makoto Tachibana
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Publication number: 20210063282Abstract: A rim exchanger includes a rim stocker. The rim stocker has an upper rim support portion that supports an upper rim, and a lower rim support portion that supports a lower rim. The upper rim support portion and the lower rim support portion have a pair of support arms separated from each other. A portion between an end of one support arm and an end of the other support arm forms an open end where a rim body enters a portion between the pair of support arms. An upper surface of one support arm forms a protrusion portion support surface which supports a protrusion portion of a rim from below.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Tatsuya UEDA, Jiro AGAWA, Makoto TACHIBANA, Morihiro IMAMURA
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Publication number: 20200180869Abstract: A tire conveying apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying a tire, a position sensor, and a controller for controlling the conveyor. The controller includes a determination unit which determines whether or not the tire is positioned within an allowable area for a reference area set in a conveyance path of the conveyor, based on a detection result of the position sensor, and a center conveyor control unit which drives the conveyor such that the tire is positioned within the allowable area, if a determination that the tire is not positioned within the allowable area is made.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya UEDA, Morihiro IMAMURA, Makoto TACHIBANA
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Patent number: 10067036Abstract: A tire inspection device according to the present invention includes a support portion which supports a tire such that a center axis of the tire is positioned along a vertical direction, a lifting and lowering portion which moves the tire and a rim relative to each other in the vertical direction to fit the rim to the tire, a position detection unit which detects a position of a surface of the tire in the vertical direction at three or more detection points, and a posture detection unit which detects posture information of the tire based on position information detected by the position detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Morihiro Imamura, Hiroaki Yoneda, Kunio Matsunaga, Makoto Tachibana
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Patent number: 9880072Abstract: A tire holding device includes a guide which is provided between a pair of conveyors in a plan view and is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of any one of an upper rim and a lower rim in a tire transport direction, and the guide guides a tire so that the center of the tire is coincident with the center of any one of the upper rim and the lower rim in the tire transport direction as the tire approaches any one of the upper rim and the lower rim by means of a lifting device.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Morihiro Imamura
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Patent number: 9746396Abstract: Provided is a tire transport method for a tire inspection system in which a tire transported from the upstream side is fastened by an upper rim and a lower rim, and a measurement is performed, wherein the method includes transport stem in which a transport mechanism having a pair of transport units split in the width direction transports the tire to a fastening position for fastening, and a parting step in which the pair of transport units is parted in the width direction, such that it is possible for the lower rim to pass between the pair of transport units.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Yasutaka Seimoto, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura
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Patent number: 9594003Abstract: A tire testing apparatus includes: a lower rim that is formed with a lower through hole, and a rim-side inclined surface that increases in diameter in a downward direction of an inner peripheral surface of a lower end portion of the lower through hole; an upper rim that is held to face the lower rim; an insertion part capable of being inserted through the lower through hole; and an apparatus-side inclined surface that is provided at a lower end portion of the insertion part, increases in diameter from an outer peripheral surface of the insertion part in the downward direction, and is capable of coming into contact with the rim-side inclined surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20170003198Abstract: A tire inspection device according to the present invention includes a support portion which supports a tire such that a center axis of the tire is positioned along a vertical direction, a lifting and lowering portion which moves the tire and a rim relative to each other in the vertical direction to fit the rim to the tire, a position detection unit which detects a position of a surface of the tire in the vertical direction at three or more detection points, and a posture detection unit which detects posture information of the tire based on position information detected by the position detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2015Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: Litsubishi Heavy Industries Machineary Technology CorporationInventors: Morihiro IMAMURA, Hiroaki YONEDA, Kunio MATSUNAGA, Makoto TACHIBANA
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Publication number: 20160355060Abstract: A tire marking apparatus for performing marking in a tire includes a printing part capable of performing printing in a tire; a rotational position adjusting roller that abuts against a portion of the tire, and rotates the tire around an axis of the tire when the rotational position adjusting roller rotates; and a rotational driving unit that rotates the rotational position adjusting roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Kunio MATSUNAGA, Tatsuya UEDA, Morihiro IMAMURA, Hiroaki YONEDA
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Publication number: 20160252431Abstract: A tire holding device includes a guide which is provided between a pair of conveyors in a plan view and is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of any one of an upper rim and a lower rim in a tire transport direction, and the guide guides a tire so that the center of the tire is coincident with the center of any one of the upper rim and the lower rim in the tire transport direction as the tire approaches any one of the upper rim and the lower rim by means of a lifting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Technology CorporationInventors: Makoto TACHIBANA, Morihiro IMAMURA
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Patent number: 9322734Abstract: A tire testing apparatus allows attachment and detachment of a rim assembly in which first and second rims are integrated and performs testing of a tire attached to the rim assembly. The tire testing apparatus includes a first attaching part; a second attaching part; a rotating part that rotates the first attaching part around a reference axis orthogonal to the first reference surface of the first rim attached to the first attaching part; a fixing part that fixes the first attaching part and the second attaching part to each other and is capable of releasing the fixation; an attaching portion moving part that adjusts the distance in a direction along the reference axis between the first attaching part and the second attaching part; and a rotation regulating part that regulates rotation of the second attaching part around the reference axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Patent number: 9194767Abstract: Provided is a rim exchange apparatus of a tire testing machine having a simple and space-saving configuration and capable of rotating a turntable having a plurality of rim placing parts with no interference and appropriately identifying a plurality of rim assemblies set on the turntable. A turntable is installed to be rotated about a rotary shaft with respect to the support part, a plurality of rim placing parts on which a rim assembly is placed are provided to the turntable about the rotary shaft, and reading parts are attached to the support part at a lower side of the turntable. Then, the reading parts read rim identification information of the rim assembly placed on the rim placing parts through the turntable at a predetermined reading position. Accordingly, the identification information of the rim assembly can be appropriately read with no interference with rotation of the turntable.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Patent number: 9194768Abstract: A rim assembly includes a first rim on which a first reference surface is formed, a second rim on which a second reference surface is formed, a through-hole that extends to intersect the first reference surface of the first rim and into which an inserting part is inserted, pins erected on one of the first and second reference surfaces, protruding portions formed on the other of the first and second reference surfaces, first supporting members provided for the first reference surface, and second supporting members provided for the second reference surface. Groove portions with which the protruding portions are engaged are formed around the outer peripheral surfaces of the pins. The first and second supporting members come into contact with each other when the protruding portions are separated from the groove portions, and are separated from each other when the protruding portions are engaged to the groove portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20150185113Abstract: A rim assembly includes a first rim on which a first reference surface is formed, a second rim on which a second reference surface is formed, a through-hole that extends to intersect the first reference surface of the first rim and into which an inserting part is inserted, pins erected on one of the first and second reference surfaces, protruding portions formed on the other of the first and second reference surfaces, first supporting members provided for the first reference surface, and second supporting members provided for the second reference surface. Groove portions with which the protruding portions are engaged are formed around the outer peripheral surfaces of the pins. The first and second supporting members come into contact with each other when the protruding portions are separated from the groove portions, and are separated from each other when the protruding portions are engaged to the groove portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2012Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20140230534Abstract: A tire testing apparatus includes: a lower rim that is formed with a lower through hole, and a rim-side inclined surface that increases in diameter in a downward direction of an inner peripheral surface of a lower end portion of the lower through hole; an upper rim that is held to face the lower rim; an insertion part capable of being inserted through the lower through hole; and an apparatus-side inclined surface that is provided at a lower end portion of the insertion part, increases in diameter from an outer peripheral surface of the insertion part in the downward direction, and is capable of coming into contact with the rim-side inclined surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20140060181Abstract: A tire testing apparatus allows attachment and detachment of a rim assembly in which first and second rims are integrated and performs testing of a tire attached to the rim assembly. The tire testing apparatus includes a first attaching part; a second attaching part; a rotating part that rotates the first attaching part around a reference axis orthogonal to the first reference surface of the first rim attached to the first attaching part; a fixing part that fixes the first attaching part and the second attaching part to each other and is capable of releasing the fixation; an attaching portion moving part that adjusts the distance in a direction along the reference axis between the first attaching part and the second attaching part; and a rotation regulating part that regulates rotation of the second attaching part around the reference axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Publication number: 20140054365Abstract: Provided is a rim exchange apparatus of a tire testing machine having a simple and space-saving configuration and capable of rotating a turntable having a plurality of rim placing parts with no interference and appropriately identifying a plurality of rim assemblies set on the turntable. A turntable is installed to be rotated about a rotary shaft with respect to the support part, a plurality of rim placing parts on which a rim assembly is placed are provided to the turntable about the rotary shaft, and reading parts are attached to the support part at a lower side of the turntable. Then, the reading parts read rim identification information of the rim assembly placed on the rim placing parts through the turntable at a predetermined reading position. Accordingly, the identification information of the rim assembly can be appropriately read with no interference with rotation of the turntable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Inventors: Makoto Tachibana, Jiro Agawa, Morihiro Imamura, Tatsuya Ueda, Yoshinori Miyamoto
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Patent number: 8176775Abstract: In a tire testing machine, a test tire transported onto a belt conveyor is entrusted to a lower rim by lowering the belt conveyor. In this state, an upper rim is lowered to the position of the lower rim, whereby the upper and lower rims are fitted to the test tire, and then the test tire is inflated. An inflation method for the tire testing machine comprises stopping the belt conveyor at an intermediate position, without lowering the belt conveyor to a descent limit, when entrusting the test tire to the lower rim by lowering the belt conveyor; and inflating the test tire, with the weight of the test tire being shouldered by the belt conveyor as well.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Morihiro Imamura, Makoto Tachibana
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Publication number: 20110203362Abstract: In a tire testing machine, a test tire transported onto a belt conveyor is entrusted to a lower rim by lowering the belt conveyor. In this state, an upper rim is lowered to the position of the lower rim, whereby the upper and lower rims are fitted to the test tire, and then the test tire is inflated. An inflation method for the tire testing machine comprises stopping the belt conveyor at an intermediate position, without lowering the belt conveyor to a descent limit, when entrusting the test tire to the lower rim by lowering the belt conveyor; and inflating the test tire, with the weight of the test tire being shouldered by the belt conveyor as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Morihiro IMAMURA, Makoto TACHIBANA