Patents Assigned to IDEC Corporation
  • Patent number: 11942288
    Abstract: The emergency stop switch 2 performs an operation support of an operation switch, and not only improves operability and safety but also simplifies the structure to enhance reliability. The emergency stop switch (or operation switch unit) 2 with an operation support function includes an emergency stop button (or operation switch) 21 for switching the state of the contact, a reception part (or detection part) 32 for detecting a remote operation of the emergency stop button 21 and an electromagnetic solenoid (or actuating part) 3 that is disposed between the contact and the emergency stop button 21 and that actuates the emergency stop button 21 on the basis of the remote operation received (or detected) by the reception part 32. The emergency stop button 21 is located on one end side of the emergency stop switch 2 and the contact is located on the other end side of the emergency stop switch 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Fukui, Yasuo Onishi, Eiji Yoshii
  • Patent number: 11657985
    Abstract: The emergency stop switch unit 2 as an operation switch unit includes a direct operation part 20A and an alternative operation part 20B. The direct operation part 20A has an emergency stop button 21 adapted to be directly operated. The alternative operation part 20B is adapted to be linked with the direct operation part 20A and alternatively operates the emergency stop button 21 in place of the direct operation part 20A. The alternative operation part 20B has a reception part 32 that detects a remote operation of the emergency stop button 21 and an electromagnetic solenoid 3 that actuates the emergency stop button 21 on the basis of the remote operation detected by the reception part 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Fujitani, Ikuo Maeda, Toshiyuki Kasama, Eiji Yoshi
  • Patent number: 11087933
    Abstract: To prevent incoincidence of contacts, a safety switch switches the contacts by cooperation of an actuator and a switch body. The switch body includes an operating cam and a locking cam that rotate due to insertion of the actuator, an operating rod that switches the contact according to rotation of the operating cam, and a locking lever that is movable toward and away from the locking cam such that the locking lever takes a lock position in which it locks rotation of the locking cam and an unlock position in which it unlocks rotation of the locking cam. The locking lever includes a bulge protruding toward the locking cam. A cam contact surface of the locking lever contacts the locking cam when the actuator moves in a drawing-out direction in an intermediate position between the lock position and the unlock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Watanabe, Masatake Yamano
  • Patent number: 10315170
    Abstract: A fine bubble-containing liquid generating apparatus includes a generator including a mixing nozzle for leading in gas and pressurized liquid and a fine-bubble generating nozzle for discharging liquid that contains fine bubbles of the led-in gas, a circulation passage for returning liquid discharged from the fine-bubble generating nozzle to the mixing nozzle in a state in which the liquid is isolated from outside air, an extraction part for extracting, as a fine-bubble containing liquid, part of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage, and a replenisher for replenishing the circulation passage with liquid to maintain the amount of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage. With this configuration, it is possible to continuously generate a fine-bubble containing liquid that contains a high density of fine bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Maeda, Masakazu Kashiwa, Katsuhisa Ida
  • Patent number: 10300409
    Abstract: Initial liquid containing fine bubbles is produced by mixing water and air (step S11). Fine bubbles have diameters of less than 1 ?m. The density of bubbles in the initial liquid is measured (step S13), and when the measured density is less than a target density (step S14), the initial liquid is heated and reduced in pressure so that the liquid is vaporized (step S15). As a volume of the liquid decreases, the density of fine bubbles increases, and high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily obtained. Alternatively, by increasing the density of fine bubbles in the initial liquid with using a filter that does not pass all fine bubbles, high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily acquired (step S15). When the density of bubbles in the initial liquid is greater than the target density, the initial liquid is diluted (step S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Kobayashi, Masakazu Kashiwa
  • Patent number: 9764254
    Abstract: Initial liquid containing fine bubbles is produced by mixing water and air (step S11). Fine bubbles have diameters of less than 1 ?m. The density of bubbles in the initial liquid is measured (step S13), and when the measured density is less than a target density (step S14), the initial liquid is heated and reduced in pressure so that the liquid is vaporized (step S15). As a volume of the liquid decreases, the density of fine bubbles increases, and high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily obtained. Alternatively, by increasing the density of fine bubbles in the initial liquid with using a filter that does not pass all fine bubbles, high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily acquired (step S15). When the density of bubbles in the initial liquid is greater than the target density, the initial liquid is diluted (step S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Kobayashi, Masakazu Kashiwa
  • Patent number: 9064656
    Abstract: A safety switch is improved by the feature of staying in an open position in the event of breakage of a working rod or breakage or dropout of an operation portion and having a simple structure facilitating size reduction. Even if a rotary shaft is released from a supported state in an operation portion because an operating force of an operation or the number of operations of extracting an actuator from the operation portion exceeds a breakage tolerance, a working rod is permitted to move in an urging direction of a coil spring and is assuredly moved to the operation portion. Therefore, a switch can be assuredly set to an open position and, hence, the safety switch can achieve the safety improvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norifumi Obata, Etsurou Komori, Takeo Yasui
  • Patent number: 8766126
    Abstract: A push button switch 1 is so constructed as to disengage the movable contacts 55b, 56b from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a through operation of the push button 2 held in the switch case 3. A first leaf spring 550 is provided in the switch case 3 to act as an opening-biasing means to bias the movable contacts 55b, 56b away from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a. The movable contact 55b is disposed at an end of the first leaf spring 550 and adapted to engage with and disengage from the fixed contact 55a. The first leaf spring 550 is adapted to be at a position where the movable contact 55b is open relative to and disengaged from the fixed contact 55a at zero displacement of the first leaf spring 550.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawaguchi, Masazumi Taniguchi, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masashi Fujimoto, Yasuo Onishi
  • Patent number: 8508902
    Abstract: A functional element is prevented from breakdown and deterioration because of mounting and demounting of the functional element immediately after cut-off of driving power from a constant-current power supply or during supply of the driving power. An electric circuit is configured to electrically connect a constant-current power supply 1 having a capacitance between an output terminal and a reference potential terminal and a detachable functional element 2 to each other. The electric circuit has an element breakdown prevention circuit 10 having a first circuit terminal connected to an output terminal of the constant-current power supply 1 through the functional element 2, and a second circuit terminal connected to the reference potential terminal of the constant-current power supply 1 through the functional element 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Idec Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamano, Sumiaki Hinamoto
  • Publication number: 20120228108
    Abstract: A push button switch 1 is so constructed as to disengage the movable contacts 55b, 56b from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a through operation of the push button 2 held in the switch case 3. A first leaf spring 550 is provided in the switch case 3 to act as an opening-biasing means to bias the movable contacts 55b, 56b away from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a. The movable contact 55b is disposed at an end of the first leaf spring 550 and adapted to engage with and disengage from the fixed contact 55a. The first leaf spring 550 is adapted to be at a position where the movable contact 55b is open relative to and disengaged from the fixed contact 55a at zero displacement of the first leaf spring 550.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawaguchi, Masazumi Taniguchi, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masashi Fujimoto, Yasuo Onishi
  • Publication number: 20120175228
    Abstract: A safety switch is improved by the feature of staying in an open position in the event of breakage of a working rod or breakage or dropout of an operation portion and having a simple structure facilitating size reduction. Even if a rotary shaft is released from a supported state in an operation portion because an operating force of an operation or the number of operations of extracting an actuator from the operation portion exceeds a breakage tolerance, a working rod is permitted to move in an urging direction of a coil spring and is assuredly moved to the operation portion. Therefore, a switch can be assuredly set to an open position and, hence, the safety switch can achieve the safety improvement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Norifumi Obata, Etsurou Komori, Takeo Yasui
  • Patent number: 7999200
    Abstract: A safety switch is described in which a switching contact in a lock mechanism switches between an open and closed condition. Switching is coupled to a lock member moveable between a locked position, locking a drive cam, and an unlocked position, allowing the cam to rotate. A link member, cooperating with the lock member, switches between open and closed conditions of normally-open and normally-closed switching contacts, indicating movement of the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position. By monitoring the open and closed conditions of the normally-open and normally-closed switching contacts, it is possible to determine the state of the lock member, i.e., whether it is in the locked position or in the unlocked position. It therefore can be determined whether the drive cam is in the locked or unlocked (i.e., free to rotate) state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Etsurou Komori, Takao Fukui, Takeo Yasui, Masaki Nobuhiro
  • Patent number: 7994447
    Abstract: Upward urging force by operation force of a tact switch and restoring force of a rubber body are applied to an operation body via a pressing body. Then, pressing operation of a push button section causes the operation body to press down the rear ends of left and right sections of the pressing body. This follows that, with both contact sections in contact with a step section functioning as the support points, an operation section on the front end of the pressing body is pressed up to turn on the tact switch. In this process, when the push button section is pressed, the center of rotation of the operation body is changed depending on which portion of the push button section is pressed, causing the distance between a pressed portion of the operation body and the center of the rotation are almost equal independent of which portion is pressed. As a result, the load to operate the push button section is substantially equalized independent of which portion of the operation body is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Idec Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 7985932
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus with safety switch capable of locking a door. A coupling member is pivotally moved about a pivotal shaft by a closing operation by a rotary handle, thereby bringing an engaging portion thereof into engagement with a fixing member, so that a protective door is inhibited from moving in two directions of arrows X, Y including a moving direction of the door. Whether the door is of a slide or pivot type, the door is assuredly locked in a closed state because the door is inhibited from moving in the two directions including the moving direction thereof. If an operation mistake is made to open the door, the force for opening the door is not directly applied to the switch body or the actuator. A safety switch may achieve an increase in durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Yasui, Masaki Nobuhiro, Norifumi Obata, Takafumi Hidaka, Kiyo Hidaka, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7960665
    Abstract: Provided is a pushbutton switch device provided with a switch case in which a depressing member is arranged which, when moved downwards, depresses a switch. Arranged inside the switch case is an operating member which, when depressed, comes into contact with the depressing member to move the depressing member downwards. Provided in the peripheral edge of the operating member are a plurality of engagement portions to be engaged with the peripheral edge of the switch case. When the operating member is depressed, the depressed portion of the operating member rotates downwardly using, as a fulcrum, the engagement portion corresponding to the depressed portion of the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignees: IDEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Sakai, Eiji Yuasa
  • Patent number: 7956300
    Abstract: A safety holder is provided that firmly attaches to a safety switch so that safety of a worker is enhanced. The safety holder includes a base body 21 that is inserted into an actuator insertion opening 7, and limits rotation of a drive cam 9 by engaging at a tip end portion (hanging portion 21C) thereof with a concave portion of the drive cam 9 of the safety switch, and a slide body that is movably attached to the base body 21 so as to be insertable into an actuator insertion opening 8 with the base body 21 inserted in the actuator insertion opening 7, and when the slide body is inserted into the actuator insertion opening 8, that enters and engages with an engagement hole 36 of the base body 21 whose tip end portion (insertion arm 34) is being inserted into the insertion opening 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Idec Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Hidaka, Kiyo Hidaka, legal representative, Norifumi Obata, Masaki Nobuhiro, Takeo Yasui, Masahiro Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7928610
    Abstract: Task—To provide a two-hand switch device that requires only a small load for each operation cycle. Means to Achieve the Task—The device comprises a left hand RF antenna placed in such a position as to enable a communication with the first RFID tag worn on the pre-determined position of the left hand of the worker only when the left hand of the worker is placed in a pre-determined left hand safe position, a right hand RF antenna placed in such a position as to enable a communication with the second RFID tag worn on the pre-determined position of the right hand of the worker only when the right hand of the worker is placed in a pre-determined right hand safe position and an output signal generating means for generating an output signal according to signals received by the left hand RF antenna and the right hand RF antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Omron Corporation, IDEC Corporation, SUNX Limited, Yamataka Corporation, Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iida, Manabu Shutto, Hiroaki Furukawa, Toshiki Koshi, Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7888825
    Abstract: Task—To provide a worker safety management system that can adapt itself to changes in the conditions of the workers and the machines in a flexible manner and can finely manage the safety of the worker. Means to Achieve the Task—Worker safety is managed by using safety management information stored in an ID tag. The safety management information includes a work area code indicating a work area permitted to the corresponding worker and a danger avoiding capability code indicating a danger avoiding capability of the worker. The danger avoiding capability indicated by the danger avoiding capability code is determined from a worker skill of the corresponding worker that is evaluated in a standardized manner from past work experience of the corresponding worker and credits earned in a safety education program, and a specific degree of danger in the work area permitted to the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: Omron Corporation, Idec Corporation, Sunx Limited, Yamatake Corporation, Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iida, Manabu Shutto, Hiroaki Furukawa, Toshiki Koshi, Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: D736773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: IDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sohei Okamoto
  • Patent number: D949155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Souhei Okamoto, Momomi Oishi