Patents Represented by Attorney Paul A. Guss
  • Patent number: 7798052
    Abstract: First and second cushion rings are arranged respectively on both end surfaces of a piston constituting part of a fluid pressure cylinder, through fitting grooves. The first and second cushion rings are formed with substantially hollow cylindrical shapes by press working a metal material, wherein the cushion rings effectuate a cushioning action, which decelerates the displacement speed of the piston, as a result of being displaced in the axial direction together with the piston and being received and accommodated within a recess of the head cover and a rod hole of the rod cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ikari
  • Patent number: 7784373
    Abstract: Rotational motion of a male screw member is converted to linear motion of a female screw member that is screw engaged with the male screw member, thereby causing movement of a rod member for clamping an object. When a load from the object becomes larger than a predetermined value, and exceeds the frictional force of a viscous material and a friction plate, the female screw member is gradually turned and clamping continues while movement of the rod member is decelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Minbuta, Motohiro Sotome
  • Patent number: 7770700
    Abstract: When respective magnetic fluxes are generated by coils and pass through a plate spring, an electromagnetic force, which results from the magnetic flux, is generated within a plate spring, screws, and a magnetic flux-passing member. Therefore, a brake pad is separated from a slide table in accordance with an action of the electromagnetic force exerted against a resilient force of the plate spring. On the other hand, when generation of respective magnetic fluxes from the coils is halted, the electromagnetic force is extinguished, and thus the brake pad presses against the slide table, in accordance with an action of the resilient force of the plate spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Yajima, Nobohiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7758015
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated valve controller includes a first signal line and a second signal line, which are connected respectively to ends of a first solenoid coil and a second solenoid coil. The first solenoid coil and the second solenoid coil have other ends, which are electrically connected in common to a switch. One of the first and second solenoid coils, which corresponds to signal states of a plurality of input signals that are supplied respectively to the first and second signal lines, is selected, and the switch is turned on and off to control the selected one of the first and second solenoid coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7758321
    Abstract: A pump apparatus comprises a piston, which is provided displaceably along a first chamber formed in a body under the action of a pilot pressure, an indirect medium composed of a non-compressive fluid and which is to be pressed by the piston, and a diaphragm that is flexibly bendable in cooperation with the indirect medium. When the fluid is discharged from a discharge port, a change in volume caused by the displacement of the piston in the axial direction is identical to the change in volume caused by the displacement of the diaphragm in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7753167
    Abstract: A silencer includes a cylindrical member held between a body connected to an exhaust side of a fluid pressure device and a disk-shaped retaining member. A net-shaped sound absorber is disposed around an outer circumference of the cylindrical member. A pressure fluid flows from the body into the interior of the cylindrical member and is discharged toward the sound absorber through a plurality of first through fifth exhaust holes formed in the cylindrical member. Accordingly, dust in the pressure fluid is removed by the sound absorber, which is formed of a plurality of stacked filters, and further, the pressure fluid is discharged to the outside after exhaust noises have been absorbed by the sound absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Patent number: 7738234
    Abstract: When a power source voltage is applied to a switch control section, a control signal is supplied from the switch control section to a transistor. The transistor is placed in an ON state during a period of time corresponding to a pulse width of the control signal. The power source voltage is applied as a first voltage to a solenoid coil. On the other hand, when supply of the control signal to the transistor is stopped, the transistor is placed in an OFF state. A voltage-generating section generates a DC voltage, which is lower than the power source voltage. The transistor applies the generated DC voltage as a second voltage to the solenoid coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeharu Oide
  • Patent number: 7712484
    Abstract: A piston, which is displaceable by pilot air, is provided in a main body. A valve plug, which is composed of a resin material, is connected to an end of a shaft connected to the piston. The valve plug is seated on a valve seat section of a sub-body connected to the main body, and thus the flow of the paint to a flow passage is cut off. A seating section of the valve plug, which is to be seated on the valve seat section, is formed to be substantially spherical. Further, the surface of the valve seat section is recessed and substantially spherical corresponding to the seating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Patent number: 7711453
    Abstract: A positioning control system has a disturbance observer for estimating a disturbance from a displaced distance of a cylinder of a controlled object, and feeding back an estimated disturbance. The positioning control system also includes a saturation element and a low-pass element disposed in a feedback loop including the disturbance observer, and a saturated value changer for changing a saturated value of the saturation element based on a deviation. The saturation element is disposed in a forward path of a positive-feedback minor loop, whereas the low-pass element is disposed in a feedback path of the positive-feedback minor loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seikai Yo, Kazuo Nakano, Nobuhiro Fujiwara, Hiroshi Miyachi, Masatoshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 7694939
    Abstract: A retaining cylinder is threadedly engaged with a fixed cylinder of a flow rate control valve, by means of a screw section formed on an outer circumferential surface. A fence cover, which is capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction, is installed between the fixed cylinder and a float rod supported by the retaining cylinder. An upper seal member is provided on the float rod, on the upper side thereof with respect to a valve plug. A lower seal member is provided on the lower side thereof with respect to the valve plug. The upper seal member and the lower seal member have substantially identical diameters. The float rod is displaced under an energizing action of a stepping motor. The flow rate of a fluid is controlled depending on a distance of the valve plug with respect to a valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Okitsu
  • Patent number: 7690869
    Abstract: An inner member having a supply port is installed at the inside of a housing, wherein the housing and the inner member are connected together by connecting bolts. Air is supplied to the supply port of the inner member and is directed and introduced through communication passages into an annular passage. Thereafter, the air is directed outwardly from a plurality of lead-out holes, which communicate with the annular passage, in a swirling direction with respect to an annular recess facing the workpiece. In addition, by having the air flow along the annular recess, which is formed with a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section, the workpiece is maintained in a non-contact state with respect to a holding surface of the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seikai Yo, Katsuaki Takahashi, Masayuki Hosono, Kazuo Nakano
  • Patent number: 7683749
    Abstract: First and second projections are formed to protrude toward a guide rail from both sides of a slide table. Third and fourth projections are formed to protrude toward the slide table from both sides of the guide rail. A plurality of balls are arranged in clearances between the first and second projections and the third and fourth projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Yajima, Nobuhiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7663496
    Abstract: In a pressure switch, a joint coupling holder is mounted via an opening in a case constituting a housing. A plurality of engagement pawls that make up the joint coupling holder engages with a bottom of the case. Further, by inserting a cap into a recess of the joint coupling holder, the engaged state of the engagement pawls is maintained, whereby the housing, which is made from a resin material, and the joint coupling holder are strongly and rigidly connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawakami, Kazuhiro Kurahara
  • Patent number: 7662220
    Abstract: A driving section is provided for a housing. A fan is rotated in the housing by the driving section. Saturated steam, which is supplied to the housing, is separated into a liquid component and a gas component by applying the centrifugal force to the saturated steam by the fan to make the saturated steam pass through a cylindrical separating wall. The liquid component is discharged from an outlet port of the housing by the separating wall and a shielding section. On the other hand, the gas component is discharged from a discharge port formed at an upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takayuki Murai
  • Patent number: 7637440
    Abstract: A suck back valve comprises a suction amount-adjusting mechanism including a screw member which regulates a displacement amount of a second piston integrally displaceable with a second diaphragm in accordance with abutment of a disk-shaped member, a rotary driving section which allows the screw member to move toward or away from the disk-shaped member, and a detecting section which detects a displacement amount of the screw member. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately adjust the flow rate of the pressure fluid to be sucked under the negative pressure action of the second diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 7637548
    Abstract: A switching valve is disposed between a pressure fluid supply source and an ejector in a vacuum suction apparatus. A supply port of the switching valve is connected to the pressure fluid supply source, and an outlet port of the switching valve is connected to the ejector. In addition, when suction pads attract a workpiece under suction and a negative pressure becomes constant, a valve body is displaced by a negative pressure supplied through a vacuum port to the switching valve, whereupon communication between the supply port and the outlet port is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Patent number: 7628727
    Abstract: An automatic speed reducing ratio-switching apparatus comprising an input side carrier, an output side carrier, and an intermediate carrier includes first and second planetary gear mechanisms juxtaposed in the axial direction of an input shaft, first and second inner clutch members which are rotatable in one direction while locking rotation in the other direction of the input shaft, and have mutually different locking directions, first and second outer clutch members which are rotatable in one direction while locking rotation in the other direction of the input side or output side ring gear, and have mutually different locking directions, and a viscous resistance member functioning under a static frictional force to integrally rotate the input side or output side sun gear, the input side or output side planet gears, and the input side or output side ring gears respectively in an identical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Ryuichi Masui
  • Patent number: 7573694
    Abstract: A control circuit turns a transistor on and off in order to energize a drive coil of a solenoid-operated valve in a rated voltage mode at a duty ratio of 100% during a predetermined first period, which is sufficiently long to move a movable element in the drive coil, from the time when an operation command signal starts being applied to the solenoid-operated valve. The control circuit further repeatedly energizes the drive coil in a power-saving mode at a duty ratio smaller than the duty ratio in the rated-voltage mode, during a predetermined second period following the rated-voltage mode. The drive coil is energized alternately in the rated-voltage mode and in the power-saving mode, until application of the operation command signal to the solenoid-operated valve is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7568248
    Abstract: The invention provides a pillow capable of having the height thereof adjusted automatically so that the height of the back of the head of a user in a face-up lying position is slightly higher than his/her back, and also capable of having the height thereof varied automatically between a face-up lying position and a side lying position. A hollow portion 8 having a biasing mechanism 9 disposed therein is formed in a head placement member 3, and when the head is placed face-up on the head placement member 3, the hollow portion 8 is depressed so that the distance between the lowermost portion of the head and the bottom member 2 is in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm. The biasing mechanism has X-shaped links 11 disposed laterally spaced apart in the hollow portion 8. Each X-shaped link is composed by pivotally connecting a first link member 12 slanted upward toward the front and a second link member 13 slanted upward toward the rear by an intermediate link shaft 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Iken Kougyo
    Inventor: Shinichiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7549332
    Abstract: A flow sensor functions as a flow meter, for measuring the flow rate of a measurement objective fluid. The flow sensor comprises a flow passage, through which the measurement objective fluid flows, a sensor arranged so as to face the flow passage from a top wall that defines the flow passage, a throttle surface opposed to the top wall where the sensor is arranged, and an inclined surface provided on an upstream side of the throttle surface. The inclined surface is disposed such that the flow passage widens toward the inlet side of the flow passage. The inclined surface has an angle such that an extension line thereof passes through a position that is offset toward the upstream side, as compared to the detecting section of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamashita, Yuta Oshima