Patents Examined by Zakaria Elahmadi
  • Patent number: 11384819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear module. The linear module according to an example of the present invention comprises a base plate; a screw disposed on the base plate and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; a carrier block including a hollow part surrounding a portion of the screw; a carrier block rail disposed on one side of the carrier block and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; a long rail disposed on the base plate and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; and a roller guide disposed between the carrier block rail and the long rail and to reduce the frictional force between the carrier block rail and the long rail when the carrier block moves in the longitudinal direction of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ewellix AB
    Inventors: Sungwon Lee, Jinho Park, Doosin Kong
  • Patent number: 11384820
    Abstract: Linear actuator comprising a housing (1) consisting of two parts (1a, 1b), an electric motor (3) with a motor shaft, a transmission (8-11) in connection with the motor shaft, a spindle unit in connection with the transmission, where the spindle unit comprises at least a spindle (7) with a spindle nut (14) and where the spindle (7) is equipped with a bearing (12), an adjustment element (13) in connection with the spindle unit. The linear actuator is characterized in that a mounting unit (2) is embedded in the housing, said mounting unit (2) has a front and a rear end, and where the motor (3) is placed on the rear end of the mounting unit (2) and the spindle (7) is mounted on the front end of the mounting unit (2), and where the transmission (8-11) is located inside the mounting unit (2). In addition to being able to reduce the number of components with this construction, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Rolf Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 11339867
    Abstract: A driving apparatus has a problem in that foreign matter, such as grease, in a reduction gear moves from the reduction gear to a coupling side. Therefore, a driving apparatus includes an input shaft with a hollow space, a motor that rotates the input shaft, a reduction gear that receives the power of the motor from the input shaft, an output shaft inserted through the hollow space of the input shaft and adapted to rotate about the rotation axis of the motor, and a coupling connected to a tip end of the output shaft. A first limiting member for limiting the movement of foreign matter in the reduction gear toward the coupling side is arranged between the reduction gear and the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: DAIHEN CORPORATION, NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nan Jiang, Hiroshi Nakagiri, Kota Hoshijima, Kenji Omata
  • Patent number: 11331816
    Abstract: An articulated robot includes: different types of joint units, each including a stationary body, a stationary body-side mechanical connector for connection to another unit, a displaceable body coupled to the stationary body by a coupler, a displaceable body-side mechanical connector for connection to another unit, and an actuator to displace the displaceable body relative to the stationary body; and a control unit including a controller to control the actuator and a control unit mechanical connector for connection to another unit, wherein displacement undergone by the displaceable body-side mechanical connector relative to the stationary body-side mechanical connector differs depending on the type of the joint unit, the stationary body-side mechanical connector includes a first connection structure, the displaceable body-side mechanical connector and the control unit mechanical connector each include a second connection structure, and the first and the second connection structure are connectable to each other
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Muneto, Shinji Kitamura, Atsushi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 11331814
    Abstract: An assembly of links and motorized joint unit comprises two or more links. The links have a tubular body, one or both ends of the tubular body being an open end. A motorized joint unit has a first portion received in the open end of the tubular body of a first of the links so as to be secured relative to the first of the links. A second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion by actuation of the motorized joint unit, the second portion received in the open end of the tubular body of a second of the links, the motorized joint unit secured relative to the second of the links. A protective sleeve has a tubular body mounted over part of the motorized joint unit to cover a gap between the first and the second of the links, the protective sleeve having a rigid annular member and a flexible annular member, the flexible annular member foldable onto the rigid annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: KINOVA INC.
    Inventor: Louis-Pierre Fortin
  • Patent number: 11320028
    Abstract: In a screw device where a shim is disposed between two nuts, a screw device that can detect preload is provided. The preload detectable screw device includes: two nuts; a shim sandwiched and compressed between the two nuts; a coupling portion configured to couple the two nuts in such a manner as to be incapable of relative rotation to each other; and a force sensor for detecting preload. A contact surface of at least one of the two nuts with the shim is provided with a recess, spaced apart from the coupling portion, in such a manner as to reduce the contact area. The force sensor is attached near the recess on an outer surface of the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kubota, Hirofumi Suzuki, Takamitsu Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 11292514
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a torsion bar for a steering system is provided. The method includes supporting a torsion bar blank on a cold forming machine with a plurality of dies at a first end region of the torsion bar blank and a second end region of the torsion bar blank. The method also includes rolling the torsion bar blank to form an end region having a cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surface and a serrated portion disposed proximate the end region and axially offset from the axial end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Diffin, David E. King, Mark A. Wolfer, Christopher L. Walsh
  • Patent number: 11293533
    Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a guider, an open nut, open shields, a first circulator, a second circulator, and ball circulating assemblies. The open nut is slidably fitted over the guider and includes an axial cylinder having an axial opening. Inner spiral channels of the axial cylinder and spiral channels of the guider form inner ball races. The open shields are coaxially fitted over the axial cylinder. An inner peripheral wall of each of the open shields and an outer annular wall of the axial cylinder form an outer ball race. The first circulator and the second circulator are disposed on the axial cylinder corresponding to the open shields. The inner ball races, first curves of the first circulator, the outer ball races, and second curves of the second circulator form ball circulating races, and the ball circulating assemblies roll in the ball circulating races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Szu-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11285601
    Abstract: A gearing includes an internal gear, an external gear including external teeth placed around a rotation axis and meshing with the internal gear, a barrel part adjacent to the external teeth along the rotation axis, and an inner circumferential surface on an inner surface of the external teeth, and having flexibility and relatively rotating about the rotation axis to the internal gear, and a wave generator including a bearing having an outer ring in contact with the inner circumferential surface, an inner ring, and balls intervening between the outer ring and the inner ring, and moving a mesh position between the internal gear and the external gear about the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Yuya Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11287029
    Abstract: The damping mechanism comprising a damping element suitable for absorbing impacts from a movable part of the shift selector assembly. The damping mechanism comprising a and a support member to which the damping element is rotatably mounted. A shift selector assembly is also provided. The assembly includes a fixed part, a moveable part, a damping element, and a support member. The movable part can be moved relative to the fixed part and biased onto a contoured surface. The damping element absorbs impacts from the moveable part of the shift selector. The support member is rotatably mounted to the damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Fico Triad, S.A
    Inventor: Javier Moreno Colom
  • Patent number: 11274730
    Abstract: A step motor that rotationally drives a rotating body includes: an output gear having an output shaft that rotates around a rotation center line together with the rotating body, and a final gear extending radially outward from the output shaft; a radial bearing having an inner circumference side that radially supports the output shaft, on one side of the final gear in an axial direction; a reduction gear mechanism having a first reduction gear meshed with the final gear, and a second reduction gear meshed with the first reduction gear on the one side of the final gear in the axial direction; and a protrusion protruding from the radial bearing toward the other side in the axial direction, in a specific area extending from a longitudinal cross section of the output gear including the rotation center line to an opposite side away from the first reduction gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11268607
    Abstract: Lead screw nuts having a body having a threaded opening having a thread region formed from a plurality of different materials having different properties, e.g., a thread region formed from a first material, such as a relatively low friction material, and a second material, such as a relatively high strength material (having thread portions formed from the first material and thread portions formed from the second material).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Helix Linear Technologies
    Inventor: Christopher M. Nook
  • Patent number: 11262681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a motor which is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus; a first gear which includes a rotation shaft axially supported by the housing; a first bearing and a second bearing which support the rotation shaft of the first gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the first gear; a second gear which includes a rotation shaft and meshes with the first gear; a rotating member to which the second gear is attached and which is rotatable with respect to the housing so as to be positioned at a first position at which the first gear and the second gear mesh with each other and at a second position at which the second gear is separated from the first gear; a third bearing and a fourth bearing which support the rotation shaft of the second gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the second gear; and a holding member which is provided in the housing integrally holds the first bearing and the second bearing, the holding member having a first gr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Kido, Shin-ichi Sugiyama, Takashi Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 11261946
    Abstract: A drive transmission has two counter-rotating cams bearing-mounted within a housing about a rotational axis. The counter-rotating cams have asymmetrical lobe profiles which are operative to drive a corresponding pair of coaxial drive shafts in opposite directions along the rotational axis. The asymmetry of the lobe profiles prevents the cams from locking when the lobe apexes pass the top and bottom dead center positions relative to the follower or drive pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventor: James L. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11248690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller screw mechanism comprising a screw (110) provided with an external thread; a nut (130) coaxially surrounding the screw (130) and provided with an internal thread; and rollers (120), each of which is provided with an external thread, each roller (120) being interposed between the screw (110) and the nut (130) so that the threads of the rollers mesh with the threads of the screw and of the nut; said roller screw mechanism being characterized in that the threads of the rollers are complementary to the threads of the screw and of the nut so that, at zero load, the threads of the rollers co-operate on both of their flanks with the threads of the screw and of the nut in a contact geometry having curvilinear segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Jérôme Dubus
  • Patent number: 11248692
    Abstract: A gear includes an inner portion formed from a first material; an outer portion formed from a second material melted and solidified onto the inner portion; and a plurality of teeth formed in the outer portion after the second material has solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: John J. White, Paul W. Johnson, Eric M. Johnson, Jeremy J. Wagner, Roman Cisek
  • Patent number: 11245308
    Abstract: On one side of a worm wheel (46) in an axial direction, first thinned portions (46e) recessed toward the other side of the worm wheel (46) in the axial direction are arranged. Further, on the one side of the worm wheel (46) in the axial direction, reinforcing portions (46h) reinforcing areas between the first thinned portions (46e) and tooth portions (45) of the worm wheel (46) are arranged. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a weight of the worm wheel (46) and to suppress occurrence of distortion of the tooth portions (45) by the first thinned portions (46e). In addition, it is possible to sufficiently increase the strength of the worm wheel (46) in the vicinity of the tooth portions (45) by the reinforcing portions (46h).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Uchimura, Ryo Kumakura, Naruhito Ogino, Takeshi Nishi
  • Patent number: 11242919
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to preferably detect the failure accompanied with the decrease in the pre-load in a ball screw unit. The failure diagnosis is performed for the ball screw unit on the basis of a combination of a resonance frequency in an axial direction of a predetermined machine assembly including the ball screw unit and a motor and a position of a nut member on a screw shaft corresponding to the resonance frequency as provided when the screw shaft is driven and rotated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: THK CO., LTD., DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Honjo, Shuhei Yamanaka, Katsuya Iida, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11236815
    Abstract: A ballscrew assembly comprises: a nut having a nut body with a radially inner surface and a helical groove formed on the radially inner surface; a screw shaft disposed within the nut, the screw shaft comprising a radially outer surface and a groove formed on the outer surface, the groove on the screw shaft cooperating with the groove on the nut to define a helical raceway for a plurality of balls; at least one lubricant reservoir formed in the nut body at or adjacent to an end of the helical raceway; and a lubricant passage extending through the nut body and fluidly coupled to the at least one lubricant reservoir; wherein the lubricant reservoir is fluidly linked to the helical groove of the nut via the lubricant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Somerfield
  • Patent number: 11226027
    Abstract: A strain wave gearing, comprising an elastic gear retained by a housing component, wherein a connection between the elastic gear and the housing component has a first play in a circumferential direction and a second play in an axial and radial direction with respect to a center axis of rotation of the elastic gear, wherein the first play is an amount less than the second play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bastian Hain, Peter Zierer