Patents by Inventor Shigeru Ebina

Shigeru Ebina 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: 7600918
    Abstract: Provided is a linear guidance device in which a track groove (30, 70) serving as an endless circulation path for balls (3) can be formed through cutting or grinding with high precision and with ease at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Shigeru Ebina, Shinji Izumi, Yuki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20090185765
    Abstract: Provided is a linear guidance device in which a track groove (30, 70) serving as an endless circulation path for balls (3) can be formed through cutting or grinding with high precision and with ease at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Shigeru Ebina, Shinji Izumi, Yuki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20020090152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball chain used by being integrated to, for example, a ball endless track of a linear guide device for endless sliding in which a number of balls are arranged in one row and rollably held, particularly to a ball chain which is most pertinent to a linear guide device having a ball rolling groove in a shape of a Gothic arch. According to the ball chain, the number of balls are arranged in one row and the balls are held rollably, each of the balls is pinched by a pair of spherical seats and the spherical seats are connected to each other by flange portions to thereby constitute a ball holding unit and a plurality of the ball holding units are connected in a shape of a rosary by a flexible connecting portion. Further, the spherical seats and the flange portions are molded by a resin material whereas the connecting portion is formed by a material having a tensile strength larger than that of the resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Shigeru Ebina, Mitsuaki Honma, Tomozumi Murata
  • Patent number: 6286383
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvement of a ball screw unit in which a nut member meshes with a screw shaft via a plurality of balls circulating endlessly. The balls are disposed freely rotatably in line at a predetermined interval in a ball arranging member formed in a belt-like shape. If a relative rotation occurs between the nut member and screw shaft, the balls circulate in the infinite circulation path with the ball arranging member. Guide pieces are projected to both sides of the ball arranging member and guide grooves for accommodating each of the guide pieces are formed along the entire circumference of the infinite circulation path. Therefore, the ball arranging member is introduced by the guide grooves and circulates in the infinite circulation path without being fluttered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Hidekazu Michioka, Shigeru Ebina, Ryuji Takeda
  • Patent number: 6282971
    Abstract: A ball screw comprises a screw shaft formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a spiral ball rolling groove, a nut member having an inner peripheral surface on which a spiral loaded ball rolling groove corresponding to the spiral ball rolling groove of the screw shaft is formed, both the spiral grooves constituting a loaded ball rolling passage in combination thereof when the screw shaft is fitted to the nut member, a number of balls rolling in the loaded ball rolling passage, and a return pipe having one end connected to one end of the loaded ball rolling passage and another end connected to another end of the loaded ball rolling passage so as to scoop the balls rolling in the loaded ball rolling passage at the one end of the return pipe and return the balls to the loaded ball rolling passage at the other one end of the return pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Shigeru Ebina, Ryuji Takeda
  • Patent number: 6116783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball chain used by being integrated to, for example, a ball endless track of a linear guide device for endless sliding in which a number of balls are arranged in one row and rollably held, particularly to a ball chain which is most pertinent to a linear guide device having a ball rolling groove in a shape of a Gothic arch. According to the ball chain, the number of balls are arranged in one row and the balls are held rollably, each of the balls is pinched by a pair of spherical seats and the spherical seats are connected to each other by flange portions to thereby constitute a ball holding unit and a plurality of the ball holding units are connected in a shape of a rosary by a flexible connecting portion. Further, the spherical seats and the flange portions are molded by a resin material whereas the connecting portion is formed by a material having a tensile strength larger than that of the resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Shigeru Ebina, Mitsuaki Honma, Tomozumi Murata
  • Patent number: 6089117
    Abstract: A ball screw unit comprising a screw having a helical ball rolling groove on the outer peripheral surface thereof, a nut assembly having a load zone formed of a helical load rolling groove opposing to the ball rolling groove of the screw and a no-load zone forming a ball endless track by establishing communication between the starting end and the terminating end of the load zone, a number of balls rolling within the endless track of the nut assembly and a ball coupler comprised of coupling members for retaining the balls to rotate in their aligned state, wherein guide grooves for guiding the coupling members of the ball coupler are formed in the load zone of the ball endless track such that the coupling members of the ball coupler are moved by each of the balls in the no-load zone of the endless track while each of the balls is guided to move by the coupling members of the ball coupler in the no-load zone of the endless track, and guide sections for guiding the ball coupling members of the ball coupler along
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ebina, Ryuji Takeda