Patents Assigned to Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
  • Publication number: 20230250855
    Abstract: To provide a simple-structured cam clutch that does not require precise control, uses a smaller drive force for forcibly changing cam postures, and provides improved clutch operation stability and high responsiveness. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race and supported by a cage member, and a selector allowing a rotation angle thereof to be controlled relatively to the inner race or the outer race to which the cage member is fixed. The selector has a cam posture control surface in contact with cam surfaces of the cams and capable of causing the cams to change posture thereof. The cam posture control surface includes a cam release portion radially protruded toward the cams more than a cam actuator portion and causing the cams to change posture thereof to a non-operating posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Yuji Kurematsu, Tsubasa Sugiya, Eiichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11708881
    Abstract: To provide a tensioner capable of preventing slipping between a rack portion and ratchet pawls and securing a large backlash with a simple structure. The tensioner includes a ratchet rotatably mounted on a housing and having a front pawl and a rear pawl spaced apart in a front and rear direction on a side face positioned opposite the rack portion. The ratchet includes an additional pawl formed between the front pawl and the rear pawl in the front and rear direction on the side face positioned opposite the rack portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Ohta, Osamu Yoshida, Yuichiro Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20230228302
    Abstract: To provide a cam clutch unit that reduces the number of machining steps and level of difficulty of cam clutch production and reduces rotation resistance caused by rollers. The cam clutch unit includes: a plurality of cams and a plurality of rollers circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race that are coaxial and rotatable relative to each other; a cage ring having a plurality of pocket portions that restrict circumferential relative movements of the cams and the rollers; and an annular spring that biases the cams. The cams each have, on one axial end face, an engagement step that can engage with the spring. The cage ring has a plurality of hook portions that restrict axial movements of the annular spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Akihiro Fukuda, Hirokazu Tsuneda, Yuji Kurematsu
  • Publication number: 20230193795
    Abstract: To provide a chain guide assembly frame capable of efficiently collecting the oil that adhered to various parts of the chain guide assembly, and guiding the collected oil to predetermined locations, to allow efficient use of oil, with a simple structure. The chain guide assembly frame includes driven sprocket holding portions, a fixed chain guide, and a pivoting chain guide holding portion on a main body. A drive sprocket holding portion is provided at a position lower than the driven sprocket holding portions. The main body includes a concave and/or convex oil passage that extends from an upper part toward a lower part to guide the oil toward above the drive sprocket holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Volkmar Nyga, Seigo Ohsawa, Sung-Hwan Lim, Munehiro Maeda, Yuji Oshima
  • Publication number: 20230184311
    Abstract: To provide a simple-structured chain guide assembly frame capable of reliably maintaining a correct positional relationship between a driven sprocket and a sprocket holding portion without the possibility of driven sprocket detachment. The chain guide assembly frame includes a main body having a fixed-guide-side sprocket holding portion and a pivoting-guide-side sprocket holding portion. The fixed-guide-side sprocket holding portion includes a first fixed-guide-side support portion that supports a driven sprocket at a first contact point, and a second fixed-guide-side support portion that supports the driven sprocket at a second contact point located more outside than the first contact point. When the driven sprocket is in an erected state in which the driven sprocket is supported at the first contact point and second contact point, the vector of gravity acting on the gravity center of the driven sprocket points between the first contact point and second contact point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Volkmar Nyga, Seigo Ohsawa, Sung-Hwan Lim, Munehiro Maeda, Yuji Oshima
  • Publication number: 20230173544
    Abstract: Provided are a data collection method, a data collection system and a computer program for automatically collecting data in stages in classification. A data collection method is implemented by one or more processors connected to a sorting machine sorting articles to different sorting destinations. The method comprising: acquiring, by a processor, an identification code of an article from a reader provided on the sorting machine for identifying the article; acquiring, by a processor, image data of the article identified by the identification code from a camera that is attached so as to image the article after being read by the reader; storing, by a processor, the acquired image data so as to be associated with the acquired identification code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Shota Matsumura, Akisato Chida, Hiroyuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 11668373
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that allows for reduction of the number of components and the weight, while being able to prevent vibration and noise during the running of the chain. The tensioner lever according to the present invention is configured such that a lever body rotatably supported on an attachment surface is urged to rotate toward the chain by the resilient force of a coil spring. The coil spring includes a pressing arm extending from one end of a helical part and contacting the lever body, and a support arm extending from another end of the helical part and supported by the attachment surface. The lever body includes an engagement portion configured to allow the support arm of the coil spring to be hooked thereon by resilient deformation, and to removably engage therewith by rebound resilience of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Kenji Muratsubaki
  • Patent number: 11662000
    Abstract: A chain guide is provided that can improve the work efficiency during assembly and transportability with a simple structure. The chain guide includes a bushing structure where a bushing member is attached to a guide body at least in one location. The guide body includes a cylindrical insertion hole through which a bushing cylindrical part is inserted, and a backside restricting part that restricts movement of a flange part to the back side in the guide width direction. The guide body is provided, in each bushing structure, with a front-side restricting portion that restricts movement of the flange part to the front side in the guide width direction only in one location on the outer circumference of the cylindrical insertion hole when viewed in the guide width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Kosuke Murai, Masanori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230140002
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a cam clutch that realizes a reduction in production cost, improves productivity and assemblability, and increases the degree of design freedom. The cam clutch includes: an inner race and an outer race that are coaxial and rotatable relative to each other; a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between the inner race and the outer race; and positioning members that keep each two adjacent cams at fixed positions relative to each other. The positioning members are configured to link each two adjacent cams such as to be tiltable independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Yuto Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20230117839
    Abstract: To provide a chain that can reduce friction loss, alleviate wear on sliding surfaces of a chain guide member, and reduce vibration and noise of the running chain. The chain is made up of a multiplicity of inner link plates and outer link plates alternately coupled together by connecting pins along the longitudinal direction of the chain. The height from a pitch line to a highest point on a backside of the plurality of inner link plates (backside height of the inner link plates) is different from the height from a pitch line to a highest point on a backside of the plurality of outer link plates (backside height of the outer link plates) by more than 0 and not greater than 0.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hidaka, Masahiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 11619286
    Abstract: To provide a tensioner unit, a rocking lever, and a tensioner, which, prevent breakage of the tensioner in use for a prolonged period of time. A protruding part is provided to a rocking lever near an abutment surface for abutment with a plunger to make contact with a tensioner body. h and H satisfy the relationship of h<H, where h denotes a protruding amount of a lead part of the plunger, where the lead part means a part protruding from the plunger bore, from a tip end surface on an opened side of the tensioner body in a state where the plunger sits on a bottom of the plunger bore, and H denotes an interval between the abutment surface of the rocking lever and the tip end surface of the tensioner body when the protruding part is brought into contact with the tensioner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Masahiko Konno, Akira Kobara, Koichi Shimosaka
  • Patent number: 11619298
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide that can improve functional properties of a chain drive system. The chain guide of the present invention is attached to an engine block by a mounting bolt and slidably guides a running chain. The chain guide includes a mounting part provided with a shaft hole through which a mounting bolt is passed, and an oil jet passage for injecting lubricating oil, supplied to the shaft hole at a predetermined pressure, toward the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Koichi Shimosaka
  • Publication number: 20230068029
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a cam clutch that prevents cams from unwanted wedging and enables smooth operation including the switching between operation modes without involving an increase in size or number of components and with a simple structure. The cam clutch according to the present invention uses first cams and second cams having different engaging directions as sprags for transmitting and interrupting torque between an inner race and an outer race. A cam interlock mechanism tilts the second cams to a disengaging direction with a tilting motion of the first cams toward an engaging direction, to separate engaging surfaces of the second cams from raceways of the inner race and/or the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Sota Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11585414
    Abstract: To provide a simple-structured chain drive mechanism that can reduce the noise generated when the chain sits on the sprocket, prevent deterioration of power transmission efficiency, and retard the progress of wear on the sprocket or chain. The chain drive mechanism includes a sprocket having a plurality of teeth, and a chain having a plurality of link plates and configured to be put around the sprocket. The sprocket includes a pair of flanges protruding circumferentially around the sprocket such as to sandwich the plurality of teeth from sides. The chain includes a pair of seat portions on both sides of the chain so that the flanges abut on the seat portions from a circumferential direction of the sprocket when the chain sits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kadono, Yuji Kurematsu
  • Publication number: 20230049971
    Abstract: To provide a simple-structured tensioner lever capable of consistently exerting a correct reaction force to various fluctuations of tension accompanying varying chain behaviors, whereby vibration and noise when the chain runs can be reduced. The tensioner lever of the present invention includes a lever body having a shoe surface that slidably guides a chain; a first pressing spring configured to have a first pressing arm extending from one end of a first helical part, with a distal end portion contacting the lever body to form a first loading point, and a first support arm extending from the other end of the first helical part, with a distal end portion contacting and being supported by a first support part provided to an attachment surface to form a first support point; and a second pressing spring supported on the lever body at a different position from that of the first pressing spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Kazushi Noro
  • Publication number: 20230043024
    Abstract: To provide a cam clutch easily switchable from a torque transmitting state to a freewheeling state even during torque transmission between race members. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams set between a first race member and a second race member. The first race member and second race member are spaced away in the axial direction along the rotation axis of the first race member. The plurality of cams are disposed between the first race member and the second race member in the axial direction, and the first race member and the second race member are configured to be able to move relatively closer to and away from each other in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Sota Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20230039374
    Abstract: A connecting link includes a connecting pin, a first link plate, a second link plate, and a nut member. The connecting pin includes an external thread portion and a frustum-shaped portion. The first link plate includes a hole at each of one end and an other end in a longitudinal direction. At least one of the hole at the one end and the hole at the other end of the first link plate functions as a first pin hole. The second link plate includes a hole at each of one end and an other end in a longitudinal direction. At least one of the hole at the one end and the hole at the other end of the second link plate functions as a second pin hole. The nut member is capable of being threaded to the external thread portion of the connecting pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Yuji Abe, Kenichi Kamioka
  • Patent number: 11555533
    Abstract: To provide a chain guide that can improve transportability and assembly operation efficiency, while also ensuring stable running of a timing chain and enhancing durability, with a simple structure. The chain guide has a guide shoe that slidably guides a chain, and a chain guide body that supports the guide shoe. A compression limiter having an attachment hole through which a mounting bolt for attaching the chain guide to an attachment target member passes is fitted in a fixing through hole extending through the chain guide body in a width direction thereof. A compression limiter holding mechanism is provided either to the compression limiter or to a hole rim part including the fixing through hole of the chain guide body in order to hold the compression limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kanosue, Masanori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230003754
    Abstract: To provide a simple-structured low-temperature storage system capable of carrying storage objects to a full capacity on a tray and of reliably transferring storage objects without the necessity for a camera to check the positions of a rack or storage objects. The low-temperature storage system includes a storage area inside a low-temperature storage chamber for storing storage objects, and a picking area where a positioning device is disposed to allow storage objects to be carried in and out. The positioning device includes a rack fixing unit that fixes a rack, a tray fixing unit, and a drive mechanism. The rack fixing unit includes a rack pressing member that presses the rack, and a rack motion restricting member that restricts movements of the rack. The tray fixing unit includes a tray pressing member that presses the tray, and a tray motion restricting member that restricts movements of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Masahiro Asukai
  • Publication number: 20230002115
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a low-temperature storage container that is highly insulated and can therefore reduce the amount of cooling medium consumption. The low-temperature storage container of the present invention includes a cylindrical container body having an opening and a storage compartment, and a plurality of holding shelves provided in the storage compartment, on which storage trays for holding storage objects are placed. The storage compartment includes a plurality of holding zones arranged in a circumferential direction of the container body, where the storage trays are held, and at least one passage zone where the storage trays pass. The holding shelves are configured as parts of a plurality of rack units that are sections arranged in a circumferential direction of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Masahiro ASUKAI