Patents Assigned to SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8939064
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear actuator. A slide table of the linear actuator includes a table main body and an end plate connected to another end of the table main body. On a base portion of the table main body, four workpiece retaining holes are formed, and fitting seats are disposed respectively about the workpiece retaining holes on radial outer sides thereof. The fitting seats are formed at the same time that the table main body is formed by press molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Seiji Takanashi, Motohiro Sato, Jiro Mandokoro, Koji Hara, Toshio Sato
  • Patent number: 8925577
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a throttling structure for use in a fluid pressure device. A nozzle passage is formed between a primary side port and a nozzle back pressure chamber. A throttling mechanism made up from a plurality of orifice plates is disposed in the nozzle passage. Small diameter opening holes, which are smaller in diameter than the nozzle passage, are provided in the orifice plates. Outer edge portions of the orifice plates are retained in a second body part via seal members. Further, the orifice plates are separated mutually from each other by a predetermined distance along the direction of extension of the nozzle passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Horiuchi, Kenji Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20140367906
    Abstract: An electric clamp apparatus includes a body, a rotary drive unit which is driven rotatably by an electric signal, and a clamp arm disposed rotatably with respect to the body. By driving the rotary drive unit, a drive force is transmitted to the clamp arm through a drive force transmission mechanism, whereby the clamp arm is rotated via a link arm through a predetermined angle with respect to the body, and a workpiece is clamped between the clamp arm and a support member of the body. Further, rotational operation of the clamp arm is regulated by abutment of a sub-roller against an inclined portion of a displacement body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Noriyuki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140361478
    Abstract: An electric clamp apparatus includes a body, a rotary drive unit which is driven rotatably by an electric signal, and a rotary body rotated under a driving action of the rotary drive unit. Gear teeth of a clamp arm are enmeshed with helical screw grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary body. The rotary body is rotated by driving the rotary drive unit, whereby the clamp arm, which is enmeshed with the screw grooves, is rotated through a predetermined angle to bring about a clamped state for clamping a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Noriyuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8901465
    Abstract: A nitrogen gas tank, a rotary pump and a mechanical booster pump are connected to a bonding vessel that constitutes a bonding apparatus for carrying out diffusion bonding, the apparatus further comprising a pressure sensor. A nitrogen gas atmosphere is formed inside the bonding vessel, and under control operations of a control circuit, a nitrogen introduction rate is controlled so that a pressure is substantially fixed at a predetermined pressure between 3-105 Pa. At such a state, under the action of a rod of a hydraulic cylinder, a second electrode is brought into proximity with a first electrode, so that ultimately, a first object to be bonded and a second object to be bonded on the first electrode are pressed. Further, current is applied through the first electrode and the second electrode with respect to the first object to be bonded and the second object to be bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Ohashi, Keiichi Minegishi, Yasunori Yoshida, Kouji Wada
  • Publication number: 20140339753
    Abstract: An electric clamp apparatus includes a body, a rotary drive unit which is driven rotatably by an electric signal, a drive force transmission mechanism for transmitting a rotary drive force of the rotary drive unit to a toggle link mechanism, and a clamp arm disposed rotatably with respect to the body. By driving the rotary drive unit, a drive force is transmitted to the clamp arm through the drive force transmission mechanism, whereby the clamp arm is rotated through a predetermined angle with respect to the body, and a workpiece is clamped between the clamp arm and a support member of the body. At this time, an adjustment mechanism disposed on the clamp arm includes a rod, which advances and retracts so as to stably clamp workpieces of different plate thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Fukui, Noriyuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8882078
    Abstract: A flow rate control valve, which is capable of controlling the flow rate of a fluid that flows between a pair of ports by displacing a rod, includes a valve mechanism in an axial direction. The valve mechanism includes a body having the ports and a pair of fluid passages through which fluid supplied from the ports flows. The valve mechanism includes a sub-body disposed in an interior of the body, and in which the rod is screw-engaged in an advancing and retracting manner. The valve mechanism also includes a tubular shaped seat connected to an end of the sub-body, including a seat structure to seat the rod thereon, and a hole that communicates between one of the fluid passages and another of the fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirosuke Yamada, Sanae Nakamura, Akira Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 8885316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionizer, a static charge eliminating system, an ion balance adjusting method, and a workpiece static charge eliminating method. In an ionizer, when positive and negative voltages are applied to an electrode, an amplitude Vm of the negative voltage is set to be smaller than an amplitude Vp of the positive voltage, and further, the time Tm for which the negative voltage is applied to the electrode is set to be longer than the time Tp for which the positive voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Satoshi Suzuki, Takashi Yasuoka, Gen Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8863588
    Abstract: In a flow sensor, a horizontal dimension Xt between short side wall portions facing respective sides of a vortex generator is longer than a vertical dimension Yt between long side wall portions facing respective ends of the vortex generator. The short side wall portions are formed linearly or in straight lines along the vortex generator, whereas the long side wall portions are curved at a predetermined radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshinori Kurata
  • Patent number: 8840073
    Abstract: A leg structure supports in an upright position a container having a piping port in the bottom of the container. The leg structure is provided with fixed legs fixed or removably mounted to the container, a movable leg capable of moving relative to the fixed legs so as to approach and be separated in the horizontal direction from the fixed legs while supporting the container, and the connecting section for connecting the container and the fixed legs to each other such that the container is maintained upright relative to the fixed legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigemitsu Sakairi
  • Publication number: 20140264106
    Abstract: A flow rate control device, including: a body including first and second ports for supplying and discharging pressurized fluid; a set of first and second solenoid valves connected to an upper part of the body and selecting a state of flow of the pressurized fluid; and an opening/closing valve for increasing a flow rate of the pressurized fluid which flows as the result of selection by the first and second solenoid valves. The pressurized fluid is caused to flow from the first port to the second port at a predetermined flow rate while the opening/closing valve is closed, and then the flow rate of the pressurized fluid flowing from the first port to the second port is increased by opening the opening/closing valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi MATSUMURA
  • Patent number: 8833132
    Abstract: A pipe expanding tool includes levers rotatably connected to each other through a rotary shaft, grips disposed on ends of the levers, jaws disposed on other ends of the levers, and mandrels disposed on the jaws. An adjustment screw for adjusting an angle of rotation of the levers, a lock nut for fixing the adjustment screw, and a stopper that restricts rotation of the levers are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Patent number: 8830650
    Abstract: An ionizer includes two needle electrodes, and a high voltage generating unit for applying a first AC voltage to one of the needle electrodes, and for applying a second AC voltage, having a frequency higher than a frequency of the first AC voltage, to another of the needle electrodes. Static charge of a charged body is eliminated by releasing generated positive ions or negative ions, which are generated in the vicinity of the needle electrodes, toward the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Nobuhiro Fujiwara, Masayuki Orihara
  • Publication number: 20140232051
    Abstract: In a clamping device, a detection mechanism detects a state of clamping/unclamping and includes: a detected body that moves together with a piston and a piston rod; a circuit board disposed to face the detected body and capable of detecting the position of the detected body; and an indicator lamp that is connected to the circuit board and is lit/extinguished depending on the state of clamping/unclamping. By pressing a setting button provided on the detection mechanism when the rotation angle of the arm is changed, the second detection position of the circuit board for detecting the unclamped state is changed, making it possible to detect the detected body at a newly set detection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Higurashi
  • Publication number: 20140224355
    Abstract: A flow-through condition of a pressure fluid between first through third ports formed in a body of a residual pressure release valve is switched by a valve plug of a valve mechanism. Between an operating unit for driving the valve mechanism and the body, a converter is disposed for converting rotational movement of the operating unit into linear movement and transferring the linear movement to the valve plug. The converter includes a cylindrical shaped cam ring including a pin inserted through the valve plug, and inclined grooves for guiding the pin. The cam ring includes two divided bodies separable from each other in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Okitsu, Kazuhiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8800593
    Abstract: A flow controller includes a flow detection unit that includes a detection unit for detecting the flow rate of a fluid; and a flow control unit that is coupled to the flow detection unit and that is capable of adjusting the flow rate of the fluid. The detection sensor constituting the detection unit includes a thermal flow sensor using MEMS technology, and the flow rate of the fluid that has been detected by the detection sensor is output to a control unit. In addition, in the flow control unit, the supply state of air to a supply room is switched by each of a supply-use solenoid valve and an exhaust-use solenoid valve, and on the basis of the supply state of the air, a control valve opens and closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Sakasegawa, Yuta Oshima
  • Patent number: 8763839
    Abstract: A pressure container is provided with a container body, a container lid, and a band coupling. The band coupling is provided with a retainer capable of engaging with the outer peripheries of a first flange section and a second flange section, and also with a tightening mechanism for tightening the retainer. The retainer has a first end section forming one end to which the tightening mechanism is connected, and also has a second end section forming the other end which is bent outward and faces the first end section when the retainer is tightened. The tightening mechanism is provided with a stopper rotatably mounted to the first end section of the retainer, and also with a pressing bolt engaged through thread with the stopper so as to be able to advance and recede and pressing the second end section to the first end section side with the retainer engaged with the first flange section and the second flange section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigemitsu Sakairi
  • Patent number: 8740203
    Abstract: Clamp devices configured such that dust does not enter insides of casings. The clamp devices each include the casing, and a clamp-side end section of a clamp arm is exposed from an opening of the casing. The clamp arm includes: a first circular arc section which is exposed from the casing when a workpiece is clamped by the clamp arm and is contained within the casing when the workpiece is not clamped by the clamp arm; and a second circular arc section which is exposed from the casing when the workpiece is not clamped by the clamp arm and is contained within the casing when the workpiece is clamped by the clamp arm. A first scraper and a second scraper are in sliding contact with the first circular arc section and the second circular arc section, respectively. The clamp device can also include a side surface cleaning scraper for making sliding contact with a side surface of the first circular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8739684
    Abstract: In a fluid pressure apparatus, a packing includes an annular seal member made of an elastic material, and support rings made of a low-friction material, which are mounted on an outer circumference of the seal member. The seal member includes, on an outer circumference thereof, a sealing projection that contacts an inner surface of the slide hole. The support rings are disposed on both sides of the sealing projection, and protrude beyond the seal member in the axial direction. Outer circumferential surfaces of the support rings always contact the inner circumferential surface of the slide hole. When a transverse load does not act on a piston as a partitioning member, the inner circumferential surfaces of the support rings do not contact the outer circumference of the piston. When a transverse load acts on the piston, the inner circumferential surfaces of the support rings contact the outer circumference of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Okuma, Yasunaga Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140133787
    Abstract: A linear actuator. On a guide block that configures a guide mechanism, a pair of ball-circulating grooves is formed on the lower surface that faces a cylinder body and multiple balls are loaded in the ball-circulating grooves. Paired cover blocks are respectively mounted on the two ends of the guide block. Paired ball clips, which are formed as arms, are engaged with the cover blocks when the clips are inserted in the ball-circulating grooves and are holding the balls. Paired cover plates are respectively mounted on the end faces of the cover blocks, and arm-shaped cover clips are mounted so as to hold the cover plates. The cover plates, the cover blocks and the guide block are thereby integrally linked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Seiji Takanashi, Motohiro Sato, Toshio Sato