Patents Assigned to SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
  • VALVE
    Publication number: 20140131597
    Abstract: A valve mechanism, which constitutes a solenoid valve as one example of a valve, includes a valve plug that is displaced in an axial direction under an excitation action of a solenoid unit, and is equipped with a flexible diaphragm disposed between a valve body and an annular groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the valve plug. The diaphragm is flexible accompanying displacement of the valve plug and includes first through third projections on an inner edge portion thereof. In addition, the first through third projections are capable of coming into abutment, respectively, against an inner circumferential surface, a first wall surface, and a second wall surface of the annular groove. Further, the inner edge portion is inserted in the interior of the annular groove while being movable slightly in the direction of displacement of the valve plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Yasunori SHIRAGA
  • Actuator
    Patent number: 8720318
    Abstract: An actuator is equipped with a cylinder body in the interior of which a piston is disposed for displacement therein. A piston rod connected to the piston projects outwardly to the exterior from an end of the cylinder body. A guide unit, having a guide body that is attached to the cylinder body, and a pair of guide rods, which are disposed displaceably with respect to the guide body, are disposed detachably on the cylinder body. Additionally, by mutually interconnecting the guide rods of the guide unit and the piston rod through a connecting plate, when the piston rod is displaced in an axial direction, the piston rod is guided by the pair of guide rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Toru Sugiyama, Masaki Miyahara
  • Pneumatic device selection system, pneumatic device selection method, recording medium, and pneumatic device selection program
    Patent number: 8725475
    Abstract: A pneumatic device selection system includes a standard circuit selection processor for selecting a cylinder operating system based on input data, an independent characteristic calculation processor for calculating characteristics of the cylinder operating system based on entered usage conditions, a branching and joining circuit processor for selecting a branching and joining circuit based on input data and calculating characteristics of the selected branching and joining circuit, a manifold circuit processor for selecting a manifold circuit based on input data and calculating characteristics of the selected manifold circuit, and a shock absorber selection processor for selecting a shock absorber based on input data and/or a selection result from the standard circuit selection processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Huping Zhang, Mitsuru Senoo, Naotake Oneyama
  • CASE STRUCTURE FOR FLUID PRESSURE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140124054
    Abstract: In a case structure for a fluid pressure device, a filter that constitutes part of a fluid pressure unit is equipped with a first body, a case unit connected to a lower portion of the first body, and a filter unit accommodated in the interior of the case unit. The case unit is made up from an outer case, which is formed as a bottomed cylinder from a light-permeable transparent material, and an inner case inserted into the interior of the outer case. Additionally, by insertion of the case unit into an installation hole that opens on a lower portion of the first body and rotating the case unit, projections and retaining walls provided on an outer circumferential surface of the case unit engage with support members provided in the installation hole, thus placing the case unit in a connected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihide Yamase, Daisuke Oikawa
  • Stopper cylinder
    Patent number: 8708131
    Abstract: A stopper cylinder is equipped with a body having a drive unit, a piston mechanism being displaceable along an axial direction in the interior of a tube connected to the body, and a stopper lever connected to the piston mechanism for stopping conveyance of a workpiece. Displacement of the piston mechanism is restricted by an electromagnetic lock mechanism, which is disposed on the body and is excited by supply of electric power. After approaching the workpiece, by releasing a locked state of the electromagnetic lock mechanism, the piston mechanism is displaced to a position facing the workpiece by an elastic force of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado, Masaki Miyahara
  • FLOW PATH OPENING/CLOSING VALVE
    Publication number: 20140110615
    Abstract: A flow path opening/closing valve is equipped with a main body having a valve chamber housing therein a rotatable valve body, and a sleeve that abuts without gaps against an inner circumferential surface of the valve chamber, such that the inner circumferential surface of the valve chamber and an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve slide without gaps against an outer circumferential surface of the valve body, for thereby shielding the valve chamber by the valve body and the sleeve. First and second seat members, and first and second o-rings that urge the first and second seat members toward the side of the valve body are arranged inside first and second annular grooves, which are provided on the inner circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Tadashi UCHINO, Taiyou HATTA
  • Linear actuator
    Patent number: 8683911
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a guide block constituting a guide mechanism. In the guide block, a pair of installation grooves are formed in a lower surface facing toward a cylinder main body. Ball circulation members having therein ball circulation holes are installed respectively in the installation grooves. Additionally, ball circulation passages through which balls circulate are provided. The ball circulation passages are made up from roll-reversing sections disposed on opposite ends of the ball circulation members, the ball circulation holes, second ball guide grooves formed in both side surfaces of the guide block, and first ball guide grooves of the slide table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Seiji Takanashi, Motohiro Sato, Jiro Mandokoro, Koji Hara, Toshio Sato
  • CONNECTION APPARATUS FOR FLUID PRESSURE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20140084585
    Abstract: In relation to fluid pressure devices, a connection apparatus, by which a filter, a regulator and a lubricator that constitute a fluid pressure unit are mutually connected, is equipped with a base member having a hole therein, a pair of first and second fastening members mounted respectively on one side surface and another side surface of the base member, and first and second holders in which the first and second fastening members are retained. Additionally, the first and second holders engage respectively with engagement projections of the filter, the regulator and the lubricator, and first and second nuts are screw-engaged with the first and second fastening members, whereby the fluid pressure devices are connected together through the first and second holders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Wada, Koji Katsuta
  • FILTER APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140083299
    Abstract: A filter apparatus (12) is equipped with a first body (20), a case unit (22) connected to a lower part of the first body (20), and a filter unit (24), which is accommodated in the interior of the case unit (22). The case unit (22) is made up from an outer case (40), which is formed as a bottomed cylinder from a light-permeable transparent material, and an inner case (42) that is inserted into the interior of the outer case (40). The case unit (22) is inserted into an installation hole (36) that opens on the lower part of the first body (20), and by rotation thereof, projections (58) and retaining walls (56) provided on an outer circumferential surface of the case unit (22) are made to engage with support members (38) provided in the installation hole (36), to thereby result in a connected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihide Yamase, Daisuke Oikawa
  • POSITION DETECTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140083203
    Abstract: A position detecting device is equipped with a device main body into which a pressure fluid supplied from a pressure fluid supply source is introduced, and an attaching/detaching mechanism that enables attachment and detachment with respect to the device main body. The attaching/detaching mechanism includes an internal nozzle that delivers, toward the side of a detection nozzle, the pressure fluid supplied to the device main body, and a detection port that supplies, to the detection nozzle, the pressure fluid delivered from the internal nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Okamoto, Takaya Toyoda
  • FLOW RATE CONTROL APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140077114
    Abstract: A flow rate control apparatus includes a valve mechanism capable of controlling a flow rate of a pressure fluid that flows from a second port to a first port. Second stopper walls are formed on a seating section of a needle valve constituting the valve mechanism and which is capable of advancing and retracting in an axial direction. In addition, in a total valve-closed state when the seating section of the needle valve is seated on a seat of a first body, the second stopper walls come into abutment and are stopped in a circumferential direction of the needle valve with respect to first stopper walls of the first body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Shishido
  • PISTON ASSEMBLY, FLUID PRESSURE CYLINDER, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PISTON ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140076157
    Abstract: A piston main body (13) in a piston assembly (10A) of a fluid pressure cylinder (11) has a first piston member (40) and a second piston member (42) composed of a plate-shaped member. The first piston member (40) and the second piston member (42) are joined in a state overlapping in the axial direction of a piston rod (15). The second piston member (42) is not provided with a hole that passes through in the plate thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chiaki Fukui
  • COUPLING STRUCTURE FOR PISTON USED IN FLUID-PRESSURE CYLINDER, AND COUPLING METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20140069271
    Abstract: A coupling structure for a piston used in a fluid-pressure cylinder. The piston in the fluid-pressure cylinder includes a piston hole that runs through a central part of the piston in an axial direction thereof. One end of a piston rod and a coupling body coupled to the one end are inserted into the piston hole. The coupling body includes: a main part that contacts the one end of the piston rod; and an angled part formed around the main part and inclined at a prescribed angle with respect thereto. When the coupling body is subjected to pressure inside the piston hole, the diameter of the coupling body increases and a pointed edge of the angled part engages with an inner surface of the piston hole such that the coupling body couples the piston and the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Koji Hara, Toshio Sato
  • IONIZER
    Publication number: 20140071579
    Abstract: In an ionizer, two output resistors are connected to a needle electrode through a switch unit. DC high voltage generating circuits, respectively, generate DC high voltages continuously during operation of the ionizer. A first switch and a second switch, which constitute the switch unit, are turned ON in mutually different time bands, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu Hariya, Satoshi Kitano, Naoto Sasada
  • SOLENOID VALVE CONTROL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140048162
    Abstract: In a solenoid valve control device, a plurality of solenoid valve blocks are connected in series with respect to a solenoid valve control unit. A solenoid valve operating circuit of a given solenoid valve block, to which a block selection signal from a block selection line is supplied, operates plural solenoid valves of the same given block, based on the block selection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaya OKAMOTO
  • PIPE EXPANDING TOOL
    Publication number: 20140041434
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Tadashi Uchino
  • Pinch valve
    Patent number: 8622365
    Abstract: A pinch valve includes a spring disposed between a movable iron core of a solenoid and an end cover thereof, and which urges the movable iron core toward the side of a tube provided in a body. An elastic force of the spring is set to be smaller than a reactive force of the tube that is applied to a valve plug. In a non-excited state of the solenoid, the valve plug is pressed toward the solenoid by the reactive force of the tube, so as to enable a fluid to flow through a flow passage of the tube. Conversely, in an excited state of the solenoid, since an attractive force of the movable iron core toward the tube is added to the elastic force of the spring, the valve plug is pressed in opposition to the reactive force of the tube for thereby blocking the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado, Yasuhiro Ushijima
  • TWO-WAY VALVE
    Publication number: 20130341550
    Abstract: A two-way valve includes a valve body made of a resilient member and connected to a lower end of a shaft. The valve body is made up from a main body portion having an axial member connected to the shaft, and a thin film skirt portion formed on an outer circumferential side of the main body portion. An outer edge of the skirt portion is sandwiched and gripped between a small diameter part of a housing and a connector of a body. Further, lips that project in a downward direction are formed in a central portion of the main body portion. The lips are seated on a top portion of a partition wall in the body, so that the two-way valve is placed in a valve-closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Tadashi Uchino, Yasunori Suzuki
  • FLUID PRESSURE CYLINDER
    Publication number: 20130336827
    Abstract: An open end of a cylinder main body is blocked by a cap, which includes a main body portion, and an outer edge portion that bends from the main body portion toward the open end of the cylinder main body, a distal end of the outer edge portion being locked with an inner circumferential wall. When a piston comes into abutment against the main body portion, a space is formed by the outer edge portion, the inner circumferential wall, and the end surface of the piston. A first port is disposed so as to communicate with the space, whereby the space serves as a space into which the pressure fluid is introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro ISHIBASHI, Koji HARA, Toshio SATO
  • Ball screw mechanism
    Patent number: 8584546
    Abstract: A ball screw mechanism is equipped with a ball screw shaft formed from a metallic material, a displacement nut inserted over an outer circumferential side of the ball screw shaft, steel balls installed between a first screw groove formed on the ball screw shaft and a second screw groove formed in the displacement nut, and a pair of first and second return members, through which the steel balls are circulated between one end side and another end side of the displacement nut. The first and second return members include main body parts mounted respectively onto one end and another end of the displacement nut, and cylindrical parts that project outwardly with respect to the main body parts. A return passage, through which the steel balls are circulated, is formed inside of the main body parts and the cylindrical parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Toru Sugiyama, Masaki Imamura