Patents Assigned to THK Co., LTD
  • Patent number: 11767882
    Abstract: A motion guide apparatus which prevents a retainer from falling-off. A motion guide apparatus includes a track member having a rolling element rolling portion; a movable member having a loaded rolling element rolling portion facing the rolling element rolling portion of the track member; a return path; and a turn-around path connected to a loaded path and the return path; a plurality of rolling elements placed in the loaded path, the return path, and the turn-around path; and a retainer configured to hold at least one of the plurality of rolling elements. Grooves into which an end of the retainer in a width direction thereof enters are formed in the loaded path, the return path, and the turn-around path. A width of the grooves in at least a part of the turn-around path and/or in the return path is greater than a width of the groove in the loaded path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Furusawa, Hiroyuki Kishi, Toshikazu Ban, Mihoko Miura
  • Patent number: 11760478
    Abstract: A flying robot comprising: a flying body unit; a propulsion portion comprising a plurality of propulsion units configured to cause propulsion to occur by driving rotor blades, the plurality of propulsion units being provided on the flying body unit; a working body unit; a manipulator unit configured to be capable of executing predetermined work and comprising one or more work manipulators provided on the working body unit; and connection units provided on the working body unit and the flying body unit so as to enable the flying body unit to be connected with and disconnected from the working body unit; wherein the flying robot executes the predetermined work by the work manipulators in a state in which the working body unit and the flying body unit are connected at the connection units. The flying robot is caused to execute a wide range of content of work as far as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaoru Hoshide
  • Publication number: 20230288939
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot linkage system (1) includes a plurality of sign posts (SP0 to SP2) disposed along a travel path (10); an autonomous mobile robot (20) which moves along the travel path (10) while reading the plurality of sign posts (SP0 to SP2) in order using a camera and performs predetermined operations in order of pre-set operation numbers based on identification numbers read from the sign posts (SP0 to SP2); and a host device (30) which receives information on the operation number being executed from the autonomous mobile robot (20) and generates an event on the travel path (10) based on the operation number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeo Karaushi, Kosei Mochizuki, Hitoshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 11735991
    Abstract: In an actuator, an unnecessarily large load is prevented from being applied to a shaft and a workpiece. There are included a force sensor, an output of which is according to a force applied to a connecting member connected to the shaft, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the force sensor, and a low-pass filter, and a load applied to the shaft is detected based on an output from the amplifier until the shaft or a member associated with the shaft comes in contact with another member, and thereafter, the load applied to the shaft is detected based on an output from the low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuya Fukushima, Masashi Ishii, Hiroki Niwa, Akira Suzuki, Kazuto Oga, Shogo Wakuta, Satoshi Hara, Tomofumi Mizuno, Shigeki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20230258232
    Abstract: A guide device includes a track member and a moving member engaged with the track member with a plurality of rolling elements interposed therebetween. A lubricating path is formed in the moving member for supplying lubricant to a circulation path for the rolling elements. The lubricating path has a common path including an inlet portion that serves as a supply port for the lubricant, a first path through which grease flows, and a second path through which lubricating oil flows. A cross-sectional area of the second path is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the first path, and in the common path, a second communication portion of the second path is located closer to the inlet portion than a first communication portion of the first path. Further, the guide device includes a plug member for blocking the inlet portion of the common path, the plug member being removable and able to be moved within the common path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Yasutake, Ryuji Furusawa, Ryunosuke Ozeki, Ryosuke Maruki
  • Publication number: 20230256626
    Abstract: A pivot drive (1) having a base (10), an output element (12) which is mounted to the base (10) in a manner so as to be rotatable around an axis of rotation and pivotable around two or more pivot axes, the two or more pivot axes intersecting each other at a point of intersection which is arranged on the axis of rotation, and having a rotation actuator (30) and two or more pivot actuators (42, 44), the rotation actuator (30) and the pivot actuators (42, 44) being mounted in a stationary manner with respect to the base (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Maximilian Junker
  • Patent number: 11718133
    Abstract: A chassis control arm for a wheel suspension has a control arm body, a spring abutment and an actuator which is arranged between the control arm body and the spring abutment and with which the position of the spring abutment relative to the control arm body can be adjusted. The actuator comprises a lifting gear which is configured as a movement thread and which includes a lifting spindle on which the spring abutment is arranged or on which the spring abutment is axially movably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: THK Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Vadim Kirsch, Manjunatha Madivala, Tamil Selvan Rajagopal, Wataru Saito, Marius Tillman, Harald Walter
  • Publication number: 20230182249
    Abstract: A workpiece holding apparatus includes: a main body; at least one shaft member capable of coming into contact with a workpiece; a clamping device into which the shaft member is inserted, the clamping device being attached to the main body and capable of switching between an unclamping state that releases the shaft member and a clamping state that clamps the shaft member; and a trigger member configured to switch the clamping device between the unclamping state and the clamping state. The trigger member comes into direct contact with the workpiece, or comes into indirect contact with the workpiece via at least a part of the shaft member, thus moving relative to the main body, and the clamping device switches from the unclamping state to the clamping state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Komiya, Yukihiro Takeya
  • Publication number: 20230182247
    Abstract: A guide apparatus includes a track member, a movable member having a first rolling surface that forms a load rolling passage together with a rolling surface of the track member, and a damper provided on a first surface. The first surface is at least a portion of the surface of the movable member opposed to the track member excluding the first rolling surface. The damper includes a plate member disposed in such a way as to cover the first area and a reservoir space formed between one surface of the plate member and the first area. The reservoir space contains a damping medium and allows the plate member to displace relative to the first area. The damper is provided on the movable member in such a way that the other surface of the plate member slides on at least a portion of the surface of the track member opposed to the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishi, Ryuji Furusawa, Tomomitsu Hirohashi, Ayako Miyajima, Hiroyoshi Yasutake, Ryunosuke Ozeki, Ryosuke Maruki
  • Publication number: 20230184291
    Abstract: A motion guide apparatus is provided which can prevent a ball from contacting an edge of a ball rolling groove of a track member when the ball transfers from a rolling surface of the inner peripheral side of a turn-around path (an inner peripheral-side component) to the track member. The motion guide apparatus includes: a track member (2) including a ball rolling groove (2a); and a moving member assembled to the track member (2) in such a manner as to be movable relative to the track member (2). The moving member includes: a moving member body having a loaded ball rolling groove facing the ball rolling groove (2a), and a return path substantially parallel to the loaded ball rolling groove; and a lid member having a turn-around path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Tsunoda, Kentaro Hikomoto, Hiroyuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 11659429
    Abstract: The processing apparatus performs predetermined processing for measurement data transmitted from the sensor, in which the processing apparatus acquires transmission destination information indicating a predetermined area in a server apparatus in an outside in which processed data subjected to the predetermined processing is to be stored, from a relay apparatus that performs relay processing between the processing apparatus and the server apparatus in order to transmit the processed data from the processing apparatus to the server apparatus, when the relay apparatus is communicatively connected to the communication unit in a state before building of a network between the processing apparatus and the server apparatus, and generates, after the acquisition of the transmission destination information, transmission-processed data in a form in which the relay apparatus is able to execute the relay processing, by adding information relating to the predetermined area indicated by the transmission destination informati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Yamanaka, Masatomo Tokuno
  • Patent number: 11607803
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to ascertain parts of an object that are approachable by finger portions of a hand mechanism. In an image information processing device, a housing container is retrieved from an image by using a first retrieval frame, and an object is retrieved from the image by using a second retrieval frame. A plurality of determination points are set in advance on the second retrieval frame, and a predetermined approach direction is set for each determination point. A determination is then made as to whether or not the finger portions of the hand mechanism can be caused to approach parts of one object, existing within the second retrieval frame, that correspond respectively to the determination points set on the second retrieval frame from the predetermined approach directions set in relation to the determination points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiya Watanabe, Yoshikazu Matsuo, Shinji Kawabata, Yoshimasa Endo, Kenji Hidaka, Daisuke Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20230027835
    Abstract: To provide a sensor that can be downsized in order to ensure a stroke of a moving member when the sensor is mounted on a track member, and a movement guide device including the sensor. A sensor that is attached to a movement guide device having a track member extending in a longitudinal direction and a moving member attached to the track member in such a manner that the moving member is movable in the longitudinal direction includes: a housing that houses a sensor substrate; a shielded cable connected to the sensor substrate; and a cable bushing that holds and secures the shielded cable to the housing. The cable bushing has a conduction hole that allows the housing and the shielded cable to be electrically connected to each other, and the housing has a conduction part that can be inserted into the conduction hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20230003560
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting member that allows a sensor such as a vibration sensor to be reliably and easily mounted to a moving member such as a nut of a motion guidance apparatus without need of removing the motion guidance apparatus from equipment, and without need of post-processing even when a motion guidance apparatus such as a ball screw is already mounted to the equipment, and a motion guidance apparatus including this mounting member. A mounting member for mounting a sensor to a motion guidance apparatus having a shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction and a moving member that is mounted so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction with respect to the shaft member, the mounting member including: a fixing portion that can be fixed to a fastening hole formed in the moving member; and a sensor mounting portion to which the sensor is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Asano, Yuta Tsujisawa
  • Patent number: 11541541
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for a gripping system having an arm mechanism and a hand mechanism attached to the arm mechanism, by which an operation of the arm mechanism can be stopped as soon as the hand mechanism contacts an object. In the gripping system according to the present invention, the hand mechanism is provided with a contact detection unit for detecting that a predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object. The hand mechanism is also provided with a signal transmission unit that is electrically connected to an arm control device. The signal transmission unit transmits a command signal to stop the operation of the arm mechanism directly to the arm control device at the point where the contact detection unit detects that the predetermined site of the hand mechanism has come into contact with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11542983
    Abstract: A motion guide device includes: a supporting body; a movable body which is movable along the supporting body; a roller which is configured to be rollable between the supporting body and the movable body; a roller holding member which is provided on the movable body to hold the roller, wherein the roller holding member comprises an upper roller holding member and a lower roller holding member, a protrusion is formed on the lower roller holding member, the protrusion is in a length direction of the movable body and opposite to a foot of the movable body, an opening is formed on the foot, the opening is opened to a side of the supporting body in the length direction to receive the protrusion, a protrusion width of the protrusion is greater than an opening width of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunlei Liang, Rendong Li, Jixun Sha, Tsutomu Togashi, Soshi Miyahara, Masakazu Takahashi, Kaoru Hoshide, Katsuya Iida
  • Publication number: 20220396110
    Abstract: An actuator whose total length can be reduced is provided. An actuator (2) includes: a casing (7); a hollow shaft (8) rotatably supported by the casing (7) via a bearing (9a, 9b), the hollow shaft (8) including a bottom portion (8b); a screw shaft (14) coupled to the bottom portion (8b) of the hollow shaft (8), the screw shaft (14) sharing a common center line with the hollow shaft (8); and a nut (15) threadedly connected to the screw shaft (14). The nut (15) is capable of moving in an axial direction of the screw shaft (14) to enter between the hollow shaft (8) and the screw shaft (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Oshida, Takashi Sakuyama, Tetsuhiro Nishide, Hiroshi Kaneshige, Sho Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11525498
    Abstract: A screw device is provided which can detect damage to a groove of a screw shaft, the damage being hidden by a nut, with a high probability. At least two circulation components are mounted on a nut in such a manner as to form at least two circulation circuits that circulate rolling elements. The nut is provided with a sensor that detects a displacement of a groove of a screw shaft between the adjacent circulation circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Mochizuki, Tetsuya Miura, Ryuji Muramatsu, Yusuke Todoroki
  • Publication number: 20220358303
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a first scan of first area of an image acquired on the basis of reflective light of light emitted to the outside of a mobile body in first direction; a first determination of whether or not a first condition is satisfied on the basis of result by the first scan; a second scan of second area of the image in second direction different from the first direction in a case in which the first determination determines that the first condition is satisfied; a second determination of whether or not a second condition is satisfied on the basis of result by the second scan; a third scan of third area of the image after the second determination determines that the second condition is satisfied; and a third determination of whether or not predetermined information is included in the third area scanned by the third scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kitano, Tsubasa Usui
  • Patent number: D975155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Endo, Kenji Hidaka, Daisuke Kawabata