Patents Assigned to Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 10378581
    Abstract: In the linear motion guide unit, a retainer plate for retaining rolling elements, or rollers, is prevented from deformation so as to smoothly guide the rollers. The retainer plate is composed of a retainer member, frame members fitted into respective through holes formed in the retainer member, and a fixing member disposed in a longitudinally extending recess of the retainer member. The frame members form a predetermined gap between the fixing member and a carriage. Tightening forces of fastening bolts are not applied to the retainer member, thereby avoiding deformation of the retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Nagao, Tomoyuki Hayashi, Masahiro Miura
  • Patent number: 10351350
    Abstract: This table circulation guide device includes sliders and carriage attached to a table. In a working area, the table is guided by the sliders straddling straight track rails. In a non-working area, the table is guided by the carriages traveling on a curved track rail. An endless circulation circuit is formed by the straight track rails and the curved track rail. In the working area of the circuit, the table travels via the sliders straddling the straight track rails. In the non-working area of the circuit, the table travels via the carriages located between the sliders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuguyoshi Nara, Masashi Matsui, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 10316889
    Abstract: In a finite linear motion guide unit, a retainer for retaining rollers rolling between guide members is formed into a V-like shape to thereby increase a rated load. A first guide member is formed into a V-like concave form, and a second guide member is formed into a V-like convex form. Needle rollers are retained by the V-shaped retainer and roll on a raceway formed by facing surfaces of the guide members. The V-shaped retainer includes a pair of roller retainer plate portions for retaining the needle rollers, and a retainer connection portion. A retainer straying prevention mechanism is composed of a pinion disposed in a cross-opening, and racks disposed on the guide members and meshing with the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuguyoshi Nara, Masashi Matsui
  • Patent number: 10294991
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit prevents damage to a corner portion of an end surface of a carriage resulting from high-speed rolling of the rolling elements, and eliminates the need for strict dimensional management of facing end surfaces of the carriage and a spacer. A crowning is formed at an end portion of the carriage, and an R chamfered portion is formed at a corner of an end surface of the carriage. An R chamfered portion is formed at a corner of the end surface of the spacer. The R chamfered portions define a valley portion between the facing surfaces of the carriage and the spacer. The rolling elements roll above the valley portion while striding it to thereby be prevented from colliding against the corner portion of the end surface of the carriage, whereby damage to the corner portion of the end surface of the carriage can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Kito, Kentaro Narita, Masaharu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10253808
    Abstract: A curvilinear rolling guide unit allows a slider to readily straddle an endless guide rail and can prevent leakage of lubricant from a lubrication hole formed in each end cap. Each end cap is composed of an end cap body and a spacer. The end cap body has a lubrication hole, a lubrication groove, a slit which are formed in an upper portion thereof. The lubrication groove establish communication between the lubrication hole and turnaround passages. The slit extends from the lubrication hole to the under surface of the upper portion. A lubrication plug is fitted into the lubrication hole of the end cap body, closes the slit, and has a hole formed therein and serving as a lubrication passage communicating with the lubrication groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Matsui
  • Patent number: 10173317
    Abstract: A multi-articulated manipulator composed of more than one hollow outer shell, joints to connect the outer shells to each other, a grasping member fastened for rotating movement with respect to the proximal outer shell, a claw transmission shaft to actuate the grasping member to rotate and an outer shell power transmission shaft to actuate the outer shells in to rotate independently from each other. The claw transmission shaft and the outer shell power transmission shaft respectively are composed of universal joints capable of rotating force and transmitting torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Tetsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 10137569
    Abstract: A multi-articulated manipulator is operated without rickety movement by a pair of grasping members, springs for the grasping members, and other springs extended across the foremost outer shell and the basement outer shell. The manipulator is small in size, easy to handle, reliable, better response and high precision in medical applications. With the multi-articulated manipulator, the foremost outer shell is connected to the basement outer shell in a bending manner. A pair of grasping members of claw members is connected to the foremost end of the foremost outer shell. The claw members are operated with a pair of claw power-transmission shafts and energized with springs to be biased towards their closed situation. The foremost outer shell and the basement outer shell are operated with claw power-transmitting shaft and normally biased by springs towards their closed situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Tetsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 10018226
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit includes a guide rail and a slider. A carriage of the slider has a central portion located above the guide rail, and wing portions which extend downward from widthwise opposite ends of the central portion. Shoulder portions of the carriage located in inner boundary regions between the central portion and the wing portions of the carriage have first inclined surface so that the shoulder portions have padding portions. Corner portions of the guide rail located between an upper surface and longitudinal sides of the guide rail have second inclined surfaces which face the first inclined surfaces of the carriage and extend in the longitudinal direction parallel to the first inclined surfaces. The first inclined surfaces have an inclination angle substantially the same as an inclination angle of the nose surfaces of threaded holes formed in the carriage for attachment of a counterpart member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyohisa Ishihara, Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9897141
    Abstract: A curvilinear motion rolling guide unit is such that pipe members adapted to form return passages are disposed respectively at undercuts of wings of an arcuate casing, thereby reducing working costs. A slider has a casing and end caps fixed to respective opposite ends of the casing. Pipe members adapted to form return passages are disposed at the respective undercuts formed on the wings of the casing. Cover members have longitudinally extending grooves, respectively, for covering the pipe members. Fitting grooves formed at opposite ends of the grooves of the cover members are fitted to direction changing passages provided in the respective end caps, whereby the cover members are fixed to the end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwabara, Masaharu Yoshida, Takaaki Tsuboi, Katsuaki Nakano, Akitomo Mine
  • Patent number: 9869383
    Abstract: A reduction gear of the present invention is compact and light and can be used for tire portions of an apparatus for travelling, etc. Each of outer and inner pins is formed by a rolling bearing. The reduction gear includes block-shaped lubricating members which supply a lubricant to the outer rings of the outer pins to thereby lubricate them, and a ring-shaped lubricating member which supplies the lubricant to the outer rings of the inner pins to thereby lubricate them. The lubricant can be supplied to a pair of cycloid gears through the outer pins and the inner pins for lubrication. Since the cycloid gears, the outer pins, and the inner pins are lubricated by the lubricating members, the reduction gear can enhance its durability, reduce the friction between components to thereby lower the frictional resistance, and realize a light and compact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9796092
    Abstract: This multi-articulated manipulator is rich in reliability and follow-up property in medical applications. The multi-articulated manipulator is composed of more than one hollow outer shell, joint members to connect the outer shells each other, a grasping member fastened for rocking movement to the foremost outer shell, and a power transmission shaft to actuate the grasping member and the outer shell in a bending manner independently from each other. The power transmission shaft is composed of a universal join allowed to bend independently from each other and transmit the rotating torque, and a transmission shaft capable of making expansion and shrinkage and able to transmit rotating torque. The power transmission shaft at the foremost end thereof has male threads mating with the nut made at the boss portion inside the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Tetsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 9784311
    Abstract: A small-sized finite linear motion guide unit is provided in which there is provided a rack-and-pinion arrangement to prevent any discrepancy between retainer plates to make sure of relative sliding movement of guideways. A rack is composed of teeth portions and a pair of connecting bars to fasten the teeth thereon. The connecting bars are different in widthwise length to form asymmetrical shapes. The grooves for a rack made on the guideway includes a middle groove to get the rack to mate with the pinion, and sidewise grooves lying on both sides of the middle groove and having the connecting bars different in widthwise length to make an asymmetric shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuguyoshi Nara
  • Patent number: 9759647
    Abstract: A wear-proof tester to evaluate an anti-frictional performance of surface treatment carried on a needle cage. The needle cage is subjected to flex under the centrifugal force of composite revolution and rotation. Wear-proof test of surface treatment is carried by sliding contact between the outside circular surface of the retainer and the inside circular surface of the outside wheel. The retainer with no roller is fastened on a rotary shaft with leaving a clearance between them. A radial load is applied to retainer through a test outside wheel to get the retainer flexed to make sliding contact over a predetermined area between the outside circular surface of the retainer and the inside circular surface of the outside wheel. This wear-proof tester is applicable to the wear-proof tests of various materials other than the wear-proof test of the retainer made of various materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Nagao, Akihide Yanagitani
  • Patent number: 9714678
    Abstract: A slider is composed of four components except for rolling elements. A slider moving relatively to a guide rail is composed of a carriage having raceway grooves, a circulator to make a return passage and insert nuts to fit into through-holes in the circulator. Engaging parts of the carriage makes fit-engagement with holes in the circulator to make snap-fit between the carriage and the circulator to fasten them each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuguyoshi Nara, Hideki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 9624972
    Abstract: End rings fit over the opposite ends of the retainer inserted in the outer sleeve to keep properly the retainer against either of rotational and axial directions. End rings fit over the opposite ends of the retainer extending out of the outer sleeve to make abutment against the outer sleeve to cover the outside peripheries of the retainer. The circular groove of the retainer is composed of the raceway groove having the raceway surface with the slit, the return passage lying in parallel with the raceway groove and a pair of turnaround passages to intercommunicate between the raceway groove and the return passage. The end rings are kept in angular location against rotation by means of engagement between the first projections at the opposite ends of outer circular groove of the retainer and the second projections in the inside circular grooves of the end rings. The outer sleeve is to keep the retainer in lengthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9528549
    Abstract: A porous compact impregnated with lubricant fits into a lengthwise hole in the carriage to apply the lubricant around balls rolling through a return passage to realize maintenance-free lubrication. The carriage has a flat upper portion which has threaded holes lying midway between the widthwise opposed bulges to fasten counterparts to the carriage. The carriage has widthwise opposed corners where the flat upper portion merges the respective bulges. The corners each have therein a lengthwise hole in which the cylindrical porous compact impregnated with lubricant is inserted to extend across the overall length of corners. The bulges of the carriage have threaded holes which are used to fasten the end caps to the fore and aft ends of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9502953
    Abstract: A covering is easily mounted and/or demounted to envelop an overall sliding device with onboard moving-magnet linear motor. The covering helps improved propulsion, high velocity and response of a table even with small in dimension, compact in construction. End blocks are installed in opposite ends of a bed and a linear motor is placed between the bed and the table. The end blocks are made in solid bodies which are tightened to the bed together with a coil board. The end blocks have butting surfaces which can come into abutment against the ends of the table to protect the table from getting out of the bed. The end blocks have locking recesses which mate with locking jaws on the covering to fasten the covering to the end blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Ida, Ken Nomura, Kazuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9494219
    Abstract: Tables having nuts are easily assembled and/or replaced on a lead screw from an open side thereof. The lead screw has a large screw near a motor and a small screw remote from the motor. A right-handed screw mating with one of the nuts and a left-handed screw mating with the other of the nuts lie adjacent to each other in the lengthwise direction. A stepped portion of flange coming into an inner ring of a bearing is placed on an end shaft in adjacency to the large screw. The pair of the tables after energization of the motor is controlled to come to a preselected phase in which the tables get closer or nearer each other or come to another preselected phase in which the tables go away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 9464704
    Abstract: An actuator is composed of a frame having a guide rail thereon and a slider movable relative to the frame by means of a ball lead screw. Lubrication of the ball lead screw is carried out by a lubricating member installed in the slider. A first lubricating member has an applicator nose which comes into sliding contact with a helical groove around the ball lead screw and a second lubricating member makes close contact with the first lubricating member to supply lubricant to the first lubricating member. The first and second lubricating members fit together in a recess made at one end of the slider major body. Both the first and second lubricating members have C-shaped contour. The first and second lubricating members lying in close engagement with each other are received in a recess in the end of the slider major body and held there with a presser plate which is secured using fastening screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junya Mori
  • Patent number: 9243665
    Abstract: A linear motion guide unit makes application of lubricant around rolling elements at the turnaround passage to accomplish securely the maintenance-free lubrication over a prolonged period of time. A lubricant reservoir plate of porous compact is composed of a lubricant reservoir major body impregnated with lubricant and an applicator nose which is different in the molded density from the lubricant reservoir major body. The lubricant reservoir plate impregnated with lubricant is composed of the lubricant reservoir major body installed in a recess made in the end cap and the applicator nose extends through a slot of the turnaround passage to expose itself to the turnaround passage to make application of lubricant around the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwabara, Go Kamon