Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Hirabayashi

Toshihiro Hirabayashi 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: 7959199
    Abstract: A multi-joint finger unit (1) has first and second joint sections (3, 5) constructed by using bevel gears. In each joint section (3, 5), the section where a driving bevel gear (10, 44) and a driven bevel gear (14, 56) mesh with each other and also a bearing section of a joint shaft (15, 57) are assembled in a tubular housing (13, 51) whose forward end is closed. Rear end openings (13A, 52) of the tubular housings (13, 51) are closed by a tubular housing (7) at a finger root and a tubular housing (41) at a finger body section. The section where the gears of the joint sections (3, 5) mesh and the bearing section are substantially sealed, so that a foreign matter is prevented from entering from the outside to these sections and lubricant does not leaks from these sections. The multi-joint finger unit is suitable for use in place where thick powder dust is present and in a clean room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignees: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Horiuchi, Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura
  • Patent number: 7823475
    Abstract: A sealed worm gear type finger joint unit for a robot hand has a circular opening in a gear box case of the unit, and the opening is closed by a rubber bush. When the rubber bush is removed, a shaft end face of a worm shaft section is exposed from the circular opening, and this makes a tool engagement section formed on the shaft end face is accessible from the outside. A tool for turning the worm shaft section is fitted in the tool engagement section, and the worm shaft section can be easily turned by the tool. Turning the worm shaft section turns a worm, turning a worm wheel meshing with the worm, and this turns the joint shaft. As a result, a swing arm connected to shaft end sections of the joint shaft can be moved to a predetermined position. In the finger joint unit, the joint shaft can be easily manually turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Masashi Horiuchi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20090145254
    Abstract: A sealed worm gear type finger joint unit for a robot hand has a circular opening in a gear box case of the unit, and the opening is closed by a rubber bush. When the rubber bush is removed, a shaft end face of a worm shaft section is exposed from the circular opening, and this makes a tool engagement section formed on the shaft end face is accessible from the outside. A tool for turning the worm shaft section is fitted in the tool engagement section, and the worm shaft section can be easily turned by the tool. Turning the worm shaft section turns a worm, turning a worm wheel meshing with the worm, and this turns the joint shaft. As a result, a swing arm connected to shaft end sections of the joint shaft can be moved to a predetermined position. In the finger joint unit, the joint shaft can be easily manually turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicants: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEM, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Masashi Horiuchi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20090114054
    Abstract: A multi-joint finger unit (1) has first and second joint sections (3, 5) constructed by using bevel gears. In each joint section (3, 5), the section where a driving bevel gear (10, 44) and a driven bevel gear (14, 56) mesh with each other and also a bearing section of a joint shaft (15, 57) are assembled in a tubular housing (13, 51) whose forward end is closed. Rear end openings (13A, 52) of the tubular housings (13, 51) are closed by a tubular housing (7) at a finger root and a tubular housing (41) at a finger body section. The section where the gears of the joint sections (3, 5) mesh and the bearing section are substantially sealed, so that a foreign matter is prevented from entering from the outside to these sections and lubricant does not leaks from these sections. The multi-joint finger unit is suitable for use in place where thick powder dust is present and in a clean room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Horiuchi, Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura