Patents by Inventor Tadashi Hirokawa
Tadashi Hirokawa 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: 7785010Abstract: In order to provide a long-life, highly-reliable guide apparatus which exhibits dustproof performance and prevents intrusion of dust into the moving block in environments where there are lots of fine dust such as gypsum and ceramic powder and where no oil contents or oil contents are not liked, there is provided a guide apparatus having a track rail 11, in which rolling-element raceway grooves 12-1 to 12-4 are formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a moving block 20 attached to the track rail by way of a plurality of rolling elements in a relatively-movable manner, wherein an end-face dustproof brush 25, which has a brush member 36 whose tip end contacts a surface of the track rail 11 and which eliminates extraneous matters adhering to the surface of the track rail 11 by means of the brush member 36, is attached to outside of each of the side covers 22 with respect to the direction of relative movement.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Tadashi Hirokawa, Yoshiaki Saito
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Publication number: 20070269148Abstract: In order to provide a long-life, highly-reliable guide apparatus which exhibits dustproof performance and prevents intrusion of dust into the moving block in environments where there are lots of fine dust such as gypsum and ceramic powder and where no oil contents or oil contents are not liked, there is provided a guide apparatus having a track rail 11, in which rolling-element raceway grooves 12-1 to 12-4 are formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a moving block 20 attached to the track rail by way of a plurality of rolling elements in a relatively-movable manner, wherein an end-face dustproof brush 25, which has a brush member 36 whose tip end contacts a surface of the track rail 11 and which eliminates extraneous matters adhering to the surface of the track rail 11 by means of the brush member 36, is attached to outside of each of the side covers 22 with respect to the direction of relative movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2004Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Daisuke Yatsushiro, Tadashi Hirokawa, Yoshiaki Saito
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Patent number: 6575632Abstract: A roller retainer 11 encloses an outer periphery of the roller 9 situated on a diagonal 20 when the roller 9 is viewed from the side surface thereof. Whether the rollers 9 are arranged in a parallel manner or in a cross manner, the roller retainer 11 is able to keep a constant position and thus the disposition of the roller retainer 11 is free from the influence of the direction the roller 9. Also, since the roller retainer 11 restricts a corner portion 9a of the roller 9, the roller 9 is difficult to slip off the roller retainer 11 and thus the roller 9 can be restricted positively, thereby being able to control the skew of the roller 9.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tadashi Hirokawa, Kentarou Nishimura, Osamu Maruyama, Shino Kimura
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Patent number: 6524003Abstract: A linear motion guiding apparatus comprises a guide rail provided with a ball running groove, and a movable block movably arranged along the guide rail through balls. The movable block is provided with a ball running counter-groove, a ball returning passage arranged away from the ball running counter-groove and direction changing passages for connecting these members. A resin-formed body for forming a ball circulation passage comprises a pair of ball passage forming portions, a returning passage forming portion and a pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions. The resin-formed body is separately formed from a body of the movable block.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Masahiro Yoshihashi, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6402381Abstract: A relative linear motion apparatus comprising: a first structure having at least a pair of inner wall surfaces opposing to each other; a second structure arranged between the pair of inner wall surfaces, the second structure being movable in linear motion relative to the first structure; at least two rectilinear guides arranged between the first structure and the second structure; and a displacement absorbing device arranged on at least one of the first structure and the second structure so as to allow at least one of the two rectilinear guides to move in a intersecting direction against the wall surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Tadashi Hirokawa, Akihiro Teramachi
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Patent number: 6398656Abstract: A universal joint comprises a first rotation guide member, a second rotation guide member guided by the first rotation guide means to be rotatable, and a third rotation guide member guided by the second rotation guide member to be rotatable. The first, second and third rotation guide means being operatively connected through connection members so as to provide three degrees of rotational freedom. The first, second and third rotation guide members are preferably swiveling bearings having rotational center lines, respectively, which intersect each other at one point.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: THK Co. Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Takasi Hatanaka, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Publication number: 20010048776Abstract: A roller retainer 11 encloses an outer periphery of the roller 9 situated on a diagonal 20 when the roller 9 is viewed from the side surface thereof. Whether the rollers 9 are arranged in a parallel manner or in a cross manner, the roller retainer 11 is able to keep a constant position and thus the disposition of the roller retainer 11 is free from the influence of the direction the roller 9. Also, since the roller retainer 11 restricts a corner portion 9a of the roller 9, the roller 9 is difficult to slip off the roller retainer 11 and thus the roller 9 can be restricted positively, thereby being able to control the skew of the roller 9.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Applicant: THK CO., LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tadashi Hirokawa, Kentarou Nishimura, Osamu Maruyama, Shino Kimura
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Publication number: 20010048775Abstract: A linear motion guiding apparatus comprises a guide rail provided with a ball running groove, and a movable block movably arranged along the guide rail through balls. The movable block is provided with a ball running counter-groove, a ball returning passage arranged away from the ball running counter-groove and direction changing passages for connecting these members. A resin-formed body for forming a ball circulation passage comprises a pair of ball passage forming portions, a returning passage forming portion and a pail of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions. The resin-formed body is separately formed from a body of the movable block.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Applicant: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Masahiro Yoshihashi, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6305846Abstract: A linear motion guiding apparatus comprises a guide rail provided with a ball running groove, and a movable block movably arranged along the guide rail through balls. The movable block is provided with a ball running counter-groove, a ball returning passage arranged away from the ball running counter-groove and direction changing passages for connecting these members. A resin-formed body for forming a ball circulation passage comprises a pair of ball passage forming portions, a returning passage forming portion and a pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions. The resin-formed body is separately formed from a body of the movable block.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Masahiro Yoshihashi, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6132093Abstract: A linear motion guiding apparatus comprises a guide rail provided with a ball running groove, and a movable block movably arranged along the guide rail through balls. The movable block is provided with a ball running counter-groove, a ball returning passage arranged away from the ball running counter-groove and direction changing passages for connecting these members. A resin-formed body for forming a ball circulation passage comprises a pair of ball passage forming portions, a returning passage forming portion and a pair of direction changing passage-inner guide forming portions. The resin-formed body is separately formed from a body of the movable block.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: THK, Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Katsuya Iida, Masahiro Yoshihashi, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6113272Abstract: A rolling motion guide apparatus comprises a track member having a rolling member rolling groove along a longitudinal direction of the track member, a plurality of rolling members rolling along the rolling member rolling groove of the track member, a movable member having a loaded rolling member rolling groove which constitutes a loaded rolling member rolling passage in association with the rolling member rolling groove of the track member. The movable member is movable along the track member through the rolling members rolling in the loaded rolling member rolling passage. A seal member is provided on a surface of the movable member facing the track member. The seal member is composed of a base plate portion disposed along the surface of the movable member facing the track member and sealing portions disposed to longitudinal side edge portions of the base plate portion so as to be contacted to the track member.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Michioka, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6085473Abstract: The present invention relates to a three-dimensional guiding apparatus capable of bearing large loads and suitable for use in a vibration isolating structure for buildings. The three-dimensional guiding apparatus comprises a base 23, a first curved guiding apparatus 21 disposed above the base 23 and having an arcuate track, a second curved guiding apparatus 22 disposed above the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and having a plane of movement along an arcuate track which crosses the plane of movement of the first curved guiding apparatus 21, and an intermediate member 24 positioned between the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and the second curved guiding apparatus 22 and interconnecting the first curved guiding apparatus 21 and the second curved guiding apparatus 22. Each of the first and second curved guiding apparatuses 21, 22 has a track rail 1, a bearing block 10, lids 13, and a number of balls 9.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Teramachi, Yoshikazu Suga, Shigeru Wako, Masashi Konomoto, Hirokazu Ishikawa, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6053062Abstract: A linear motion apparatus comprises a linear track rail having a roller running groove; a feeding threaded shaft rotatably arranged in parallel with the track rail; and a movable block arranged on the track rail through rollers, and provided with a nut portion having a threaded bore into which the feeding threaded shaft is to be screwed. The movable block comprises (i) a block body having a roller running counter-groove which faces on the roller running groove of the track rail and a roller returning passage and (ii) direction changing passage forming members respectively provided on both ends of the block body, each of which members forms a U-shaped direction changing passage connecting the roller running counter-groove and the roller returning passage to each other. The movable block is linearly moved on the track rail through the rollers by rotating the feeding threaded shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirokazu Ishikawa, Takeki Shirai, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 6045265Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a rolling motion guide apparatus and a method of manufacturing a movable member for the apparatus enabling to enhance a working efficiency by sufficiently minimizing the boundary portion between the molding shaped portion and the movable member body. The apparatus and the method are characterized in that a pipe portion (14) for forming a rolling member return passage is integrally provided to an inner periphery portion of a through bore (13) formed so as to penetrate through a movable block body (6), and a boundary portion between a molding die portion and the movable block body (6) is limited to portions, i.e., a portion between an end surface (61) of the movable block body and a round piece portion (16) and a portion between a ball rolling groove (10) and a ball retaining portion (12).Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeki Shirai, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 5911509Abstract: The present invention concerns a slider of a rectilinear guide unit for guiding a movable body such as a work table of a machine tool, an industrial robot or the like by moving along a track rail arranged on a stationary section such as a bed or a column while bearing a load. Such type of slider is manufactured by injection-molding a synthetic resin over a metallic block main body having ball load rolling surfaces. Further, the block main body is provided on the outer side surfaces thereof with synthetic resin side surface molded portions with ball return holes formed by padding and on the front and rear end surfaces thereof with end surface molded portions with change direction paths for balls formed by padding.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1998Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tadashi Hirokawa
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Patent number: 5829883Abstract: A rolling motion guide apparatus comprises a guide rail formed with a loaded rolling member rolling passage and a movable member disposed to be movable with respect to the guide rail through a number of rolling members, in which the rolling direction changing passage structure is composed of an end surface forming portion which is formed with a rolling direction changing passage inner periphery guide portion integrally formed with the movable member main body and an end plate which is formed with a rolling direction changing passage outer periphery guide portion separately formed from the end surface forming portion. The rolling direction changing passage outer periphery guide portion of the end plate and a rolling direction changing passage inner periphery guide portion thereof have peripheral portions respectively which are joined and welded so as to provide joining surfaces as a welding portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tadashi Hirokawa