Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Inoue

Toshihiko Inoue 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: 9819027
    Abstract: A method for producing a battery resulting from the joining with a plurality of weld nuggets therebetween of a foil layered part, at which foil exposed portions exposing an aluminum foil overlap, and a positive terminal member made of aluminum, includes: a formation step for forming at the foil layered part a foil welded part at which are formed, by welding aluminum foils together by means of ultrasonic welding, a first high-position part at at least a section of a surface to be joined, and a plurality of first low-position parts distributed at scattered points within the first high-position part; and a resistance-welding step for contacting the first high-position part to the positive terminal member, generating weld nuggets at the first low-position part by flowing an electric current, and resistance-welding the foil welded part and the positive terminal member with the weld nuggets therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Masaharu Miyahisa, Hajime Konishi, Koichi Toriyama
  • Publication number: 20170291305
    Abstract: Provided is a wire body processing structure for a robot having a wrist, a base end of which is connected to a forearm in a rotatable manner about a first axis and a distal end of which has a plurality of working tools attached thereto. The wire body processing structure includes a first flexible conduit disposed along the first axis from the forearm to the distal end of the wrist and also includes a second flexible conduit disposed longitudinally within the first conduit. A first wire body for one of the working tools is extended longitudinally through the second conduit. A second wire body for another one of the working tools is extended longitudinally through a space between the first conduit and the second conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Tomoyuki MOTOKADO, Wataru AMEMIYA
  • Publication number: 20170291313
    Abstract: A linear object handling structure of a robot includes a rotational drum supported above a base in a rotatable manner about a vertical axis line, a plurality of operation shafts supported by the rotational drum, and a hollow part near the vertical axis line in the rotational drum. A first linear object group including cables for driving the operation shafts has one end fixed to the base and the other end wired to the motors of the operation shafts supported by the rotational drum, and is disposed to penetrate through the hollow part. A second linear object group for a peripheral device supported by any one of the operation shafts is collectively covered by a flexible conduit pipe, disposed to penetrate through the hollow part, and detachably fixed to the base and the rotational drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Tomoyuki MOTOKADO, Masayoshi MORI, Wataru AMEMIYA
  • Publication number: 20170282382
    Abstract: Provided is a robot pivot shaft structure that includes a revolving drum rotatably supported at an upper portion of a base and that has a hollow portion, a drive motor rotating the revolving drum, and a speed reduction mechanism reducing the rotational speed of the drive motor. The speed reduction mechanism has a small gear fixed to a shaft of the drive motor, a large gear meshed with the small gear, an input hypoid gear fixed to the large gear, and an output hypoid gear meshed with the input hypoid gear. The output hypoid gear is fixed to the revolving drum and is disposed in the base. The input hypoid gear and the large gear are rotatably supported at the base. The drive motor is fixed to the base and disposed below the revolving drum, the position being horizontally shifted from vertically below the hollow portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Masayoshi MORI
  • Publication number: 20170282358
    Abstract: Provided is a robot arm including an upper arm, a forearm installed at the distal end of the upper arm, a wrist element installed at the distal end of the forearm to be rotatable around an axis line and having a hollow part through which the axis line penetrates, a motor installed in the forearm and rotating the element around the axis line, and a mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor to the element while reducing speed of rotation. The motor includes a rotation center axis extending obliquely downward on the opposite side of the upper arm. The mechanism includes a hypoid gear set including an output hypoid gear fixed to the element coaxially with the axis line and an input hypoid gear, and a gear set including a gear wheel fixed to the input hypoid gear and a pinion fixed to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Tooru NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20170282381
    Abstract: Provided is a linear-object handling structure of a robot, in which a linear object for a motor that drives a second arm and a wrist and a linear object for a work tool that is attached to the wrist pass from a base part to the inside of a rotational drum in the vicinity of a first axis, are guided upward to the outside through a through-hole provided in the rotational drum, are respectively curved toward opposite lateral sides of the rotational drum in the substantially circumferential directions while each given a margin of length required for the motion of the rotational drum, are guided from the lateral sides of the rotational drum to the second arm in the longitudinal direction of the first arm while each being given a margin of length required for the motions of the first arm and the second arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Tomoyuki MOTOKADO, Masayoshi MORI, Wataru AMEMIYA
  • Publication number: 20170274524
    Abstract: A robot wrist structure includes a first wrist element, a second wrist element, and a third wrist element which are respectively rotatable about a first axis to a third axis; drive motors for the second and third wrist elements; and gear sets that reduce speeds of rotation of the drive motors. The gear sets respectively include a driven-side large-diameter gear that rotates the second wrist element and a driven-side small-diameter gear that rotates the third wrist element, where the driven-side large-diameter gear and the driven-side small-diameter gear are coaxially arranged so as to be rotatable about the second axis. The small-diameter gear is fixed to a drive-side bevel gear that meshes with a driven-side bevel gear fixed to the third wrist element. The second wrist element includes a first housing that is fixed to the large-diameter gear; and a second housing rotatably supports the third wrist element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Shunsuke ABIKO, Tooru NAGAI
  • Patent number: 9717168
    Abstract: Suppression of the effects of electromagnetic waves on the signals which are transmitted by signal lines and manufacturing composite cables more compactly and with higher efficiency have been sought. For this, provision is made of a composite cable 30 comprised of a center member 32 for supplying the fluid or wire material used for the work of the industrial robot, first signal lines 34 which are arranged at the outer circumferential side of the center member 32, a tubular shield 36 which surrounds the first signal lines 34 and shields them from electromagnetic waves, power lines 40 which are arranged at the outer circumferential side of the shield 36, and a tubular sheath 42 which surrounds the power lines 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Shunsuke Abiko
  • Patent number: 9601759
    Abstract: To provide: a cathode for secondary batteries, which has a high capacity retention rate; a method for producing a cathode for secondary batteries; and an all-solid-state secondary battery comprising the cathode. This object has been achieved providing by a cathode for secondary batteries, which is characterized by comprising a cathode active material layer containing at least a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte, wherein the cathode active material has an oil absorption amount of 35 to 50 ml per 100 g; wherein the solid electrolyte has an average particle diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 ?m; and wherein the cathode active material layer is formed by mixing the cathode active material and the solid electrolyte in the absence of solvent and pressure-forming the resulting mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 9597808
    Abstract: A joint structure capable of optimizing a margin of length of an umbilical member corresponding to a motion range of a forearm, and an industrial robot having the joint structure. At an upper section (near the forearm) of an upper arm, a frame constituting the upper arm has an opening through which the umbilical member can be inserted, and the umbilical member 28 inserted from the opening into a space (or containing section) within the upper arm. By virtue of such a containing section, even when the motion range of the forearm is changed, an operator can adjust (optimize) the margin of length of the umbilical member required for the motion of the forearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Shunsuke Abiko
  • Publication number: 20170072573
    Abstract: A robot capable of preventing adhesion of a cutting fluid or the like on components thereof. The robot includes a robot arm, and a wrist connected to a distal end of the robot arm and including a plurality of movable elements connected to each other, and the movable elements being hollow elements, an end effector connected to a distal end of the wrist, a wire member laid to extend through the respective movable elements, and a cover to be mounted on the wrist so as to surround a connection between the two movable elements connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Motokado, Toshihiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20170014999
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus for controlling a robot for gripping two workpieces includes an upper limit value changing unit for changing at least one of the upper speed limit value and the upper acceleration limit value of the robot depending on the type and number of workpieces gripped, and an operation controlling unit for controlling the operation of the robot such that at least one of the speed and the acceleration of the robot does not exceed the changed upper speed limit value and upper acceleration limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Shunsuke ABIKO
  • Publication number: 20160205816
    Abstract: Suppression of the effects of electromagnetic waves on the signals which are transmitted by signal lines and manufacturing composite cables more compactly and with higher efficiency have been sought. For this, provision is made of a composite cable 30 comprised of a center member 32 for supplying the fluid or wire material used for the work of the industrial robot, first signal lines 34 which are arranged at the outer circumferential side of the center member 32, a tubular shield 36 which surrounds the first signal lines 34 and shields them from electromagnetic waves, power lines 40 which are arranged at the outer circumferential side of the shield 36, and a tubular sheath 42 which surrounds the power lines 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Shunsuke Abiko
  • Patent number: 9321179
    Abstract: A wrist structure of an industrial robot including a second wrist power transmission part transmitting power of a second wrist motor to a second wrist element and a third wrist power transmission part transmitting power of a third wrist motor to a third wrist element. The second wrist power transmission part includes a hypoid gear set, a drive shaft, a first reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the second wrist motor and transmitting the reduced rotation to the drive shaft, and a second reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the drive shaft and transmitting the reduced rotation to the second wrist small gear, and the third wrist power transmission part includes a hypoid gear set and a third reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the third wrist motor and transmitting the reduced rotation to the third wrist small gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20160101528
    Abstract: A joint structure capable of optimizing a margin of length of an umbilical member corresponding to a motion range of a forearm, and an industrial robot having the joint structure. At an upper section (near the forearm) of an upper arm, a frame constituting the upper arm has an opening through which the umbilical member can be inserted, and the umbilical member 28 inserted from the opening into a space (or containing section) within the upper arm. By virtue of such a containing section, even when the motion range of the forearm is changed, an operator can adjust (optimize) the margin of length of the umbilical member required for the motion of the forearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Shunsuke Abiko
  • Publication number: 20150325844
    Abstract: To provide: a cathode for secondary batteries, which has a high capacity retention rate; a method for producing a cathode for secondary batteries; and an all-solid-state secondary battery comprising the cathode. This object has been achieved providing by a cathode for secondary batteries, which is characterized by comprising a cathode active material layer containing at least a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte, wherein the cathode active material has an oil absorption amount of 35 to 50 ml per 100 g; wherein the solid electrolyte has an average particle diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 ?m; and wherein the cathode active material layer is formed by mixing the cathode active material and the solid electrolyte in the absence of solvent and pressure-forming the resulting mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko INOUE
  • Publication number: 20150147598
    Abstract: A method for producing a battery resulting from the joining with a plurality of weld nuggets therebetween of a foil layered part, at which foil exposed portions exposing an aluminum foil overlap, and a positive terminal member made of aluminum, includes: a formation step for forming at the foil layered part a foil welded part at which are formed, by welding aluminum foils together by means of ultrasonic welding, a first high-position part at at least a section of a surface to be joined, and a plurality of first low-position parts distributed at scattered points within the first high-position part; and a resistance-welding step for contacting the first high-position part to the positive terminal member, generating weld nuggets at the first low-position part by flowing an electric current, and resistance-welding the foil welded part and the positive terminal member with the weld nuggets therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Masaharu Miyahisa, Hajime Konishi, Koichi Toriyama
  • Publication number: 20140318298
    Abstract: A wrist structure of an industrial robot including a second wrist power transmission part transmitting power of a second wrist motor to a second wrist element and a third wrist power transmission part transmitting power of a third wrist motor to a third wrist element. The second wrist power transmission part includes a hypoid gear set, a drive shaft, a first reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the second wrist motor and transmitting the reduced rotation to the drive shaft, and a second reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the drive shaft and transmitting the reduced rotation to the second wrist small gear, and the third wrist power transmission part includes a hypoid gear set and a third reduction gear part reducing a speed of rotation from the third wrist motor and transmitting the reduced rotation to the third wrist small gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 8288687
    Abstract: An arc welding robot having a welding wire conduit which has a bend radius above a certain level and arranged so that disadvantageous stress is not applied to the conduit by the motion of the robot arm. A conduit for a welding wire is inserted through a hole of a robot pedestal from the rear side of the robot, is supported by a second support member arranged on the pedestal, extends near the front side of a rotating body of the robot, and is supported by a first support member on the upper part of the rotating body while having a required minimum bend radius. The conduit after passing through the first support member is introduced to the rear side of the upper arm and is connected to a connector at the rear side of a wire feeder while having the required minimum radius, whereby the conduit presents a generally S-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 8282333
    Abstract: A workpiece transfer robot system including a machine tool provided with a workpiece support section and a robot capable of transferring a workpiece relative to the workpiece support section of the machine tool. The machine tool includes a cover surrounding at least the workpiece support section. The cover includes a first side wall provided with a first opening usable for a workpiece transferring task of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Masaru Oda, Toru Shirahata, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama, Masaaki Uematsu, Kentarou Ootani