Patents by Inventor Akihiro Kazama

Akihiro Kazama has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240153158
    Abstract: A map image generation apparatus acquires material specification information representing a material specification of a material and physical property information representing a physical property of a product. The map image generation apparatus generates a self-organizing map by using the physical property information. A position in a map space, and a physical property vector indicating, for each of a plurality of types of physical properties of the product, a value related to a physical property quantity of the physical property are assigned to each of nodes on the self-organizing map. The map image generation apparatus assigns, by using the material specification information, a specification vector indicating a value related to the material specification to each of the nodes. The map image generation apparatus generates a map image in which the nodes are clustered or colored based on the specification vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: NEC CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Naoki KUWAMORI, Akihiro MUSA, Yohei TAKIGAWA, Yuka KAZAMA, Yoshihiko SATOU, Hiroaki KOBAYASHI, Gota KIKUGAWA, Tomonaga OKABE, Kazuhiko KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20240152664
    Abstract: A singular material detection apparatus (2000) acquires, for each of a plurality of materials (60), material specification information (10) representing material specifications of the material (60) and physical property information (20) indicating physical properties of a product (70) that can be generated by using the material (60). The singular material detection apparatus (2000) generates a self-organizing map (30) by using the physical property information (20). The singular material detection apparatus (2000) assigns each of pieces of material specification information (10) to one of nodes based on the physical property information (20) corresponding to that piece of the material specification information (10). Then, the singular material detection apparatus (2000) detects, from among the nodes to which the pieces of material specification information (10) are assigned, a singular node located at a singular position in a map space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicants: NEC CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Naoki KUWAMORI, Akihiro MUSA, Yohei TAKIGAWA, Yuka KAZAMA, Yoshihiko SATOU, Hiroaki KOBAYASHI, Gota KIKUGAWA, Tomonaga OKABE, Kazuhiko KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 11959500
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an air cylinder (10) in which flow rate controllers (24, 24A) are built into a head cover (14) and a rod cover (16), said flow rate controllers (24, 24A) being provided with a first flow rate adjustment part (28) connected between a port (14a, 16a) and a cylinder chamber (12c), a second flow rate adjustment part (32) provided adjacent to the first flow rate adjustment part (28), and a pilot check valve (38) connected in series to the second flow rate adjustment part (32). In response to the pressure of pilot air, the pilot check valve (38) switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air from the cylinder chamber (12c) is permitted and a state in which the passage of exhaust air is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Akihiro Kazama, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden
  • Patent number: 11946493
    Abstract: A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a first flow passage connected between an operation switching valve and an air cylinder, and that supplies air to and discharges air from a cylinder chamber of the air cylinder; a first flow rate adjustment part provided in the first flow passage; a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage; a pilot check valve provided at a point along the second flow passage; a second flow rate adjustment part connected in series to the pilot check valve at a point along the second flow passage; a pilot air flow passage, one end of which communicates with the operation switching valve and the other end of which is connected to a pilot port of the pilot check valve; and a third flow rate adjustment part provided in the pilot air flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Akihiro Kazama, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden
  • Patent number: 11898583
    Abstract: In a cushion mechanism of a gas cylinder, when the pressure of a gas in a first pressure chamber is less than or equal to a prescribed pressure, a valve body cuts off communication between the upstream side and downstream side of a discharge flow passage by mean of the biasing force of a spring member. In addition, when the pressure of the gas exceeds the prescribed pressure, the valve body is displaced to the downstream side of the discharge flow passage against the biasing force, thereby enabling communication between the upstream side and the downstream side of the discharge flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichi Nagura, Naoki Shinjo, Kazutaka Someya, Akihiro Kazama, Yusuke Mori
  • Patent number: 11846306
    Abstract: An air cylinder in which a flow rate controller is built in, has a head cover and a rod cover. A pilot air adjustment unit guides exhaust air to a switch valve of the flow rate controller as pilot air, and the switch valve is switched by an increase in the pressure of the pilot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Akihiro Kazama, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden
  • Patent number: 11773879
    Abstract: In a flow rate controller and a drive device, a housing is provided therein with a first flow passage, a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage, a first throttle valve provided to the first flow passage, and a second throttle valve provided to the second flow passage. A pilot check valve is provided to the second flow passage and is connected in series to the second throttle valve. A pilot air flow passage communicates with a pilot port of the pilot check valve for supplying and discharging pilot air, and a third throttle valve is provided to the pilot air flow passage. In response to the pressure of the pilot air, the pilot check valve switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air discharged from an air cylinder is permitted and a state in which passage of the exhaust air is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Akihiro Kazama, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden
  • Patent number: 11519430
    Abstract: A main flow path that introduces high-pressure air to an air cylinder, or discharges exhaust air therefrom, includes a sub flow path provided alongside the main flow path; an exhaust flow rate adjustment unit that suppresses the operation speed of the air cylinder by adjusting the flow rate of the exhaust air flowing through the sub flow path; and a switching valve that is connected between the air cylinder, the main flow path and the sub flow path, and that connects the main flow path and the sub flow path to the air cylinder in a switching manner. The switching valve is constituted by a spool valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Akihiro Kazama, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden
  • Publication number: 20220364579
    Abstract: In a cushion mechanism of a gas cylinder, when the pressure of a gas in a first pressure chamber is less than or equal to a prescribed pressure, a valve body cuts off communication between the upstream side and downstream side of a discharge flow passage by mean of the biasing force of a spring member. In addition, when the pressure of the gas exceeds the prescribed pressure, the valve body is displaced to the downstream side of the discharge flow passage against the biasing force, thereby enabling communication between the upstream side and the downstream side of the discharge flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichi NAGURA, Naoki SHINJO, Kazutaka SOMEYA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Yusuke MORI
  • Publication number: 20220349426
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an air cylinder (10) in which flow rate controllers (24, 24A) are built into a head cover (14) and a rod cover (16), said flow rate controllers (24, 24A) being provided with a first flow rate adjustment part (28) connected between a port (14a, 16a) and a cylinder chamber (12c), a second flow rate adjustment part (32) provided adjacent to the first flow rate adjustment part (28), and a pilot check valve (38) connected in series to the second flow rate adjustment part (32). In response to the pressure of pilot air, the pilot check valve (38) switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air from the cylinder chamber (12c) is permitted and a state in which the passage of exhaust air is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Publication number: 20220333619
    Abstract: A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a first flow passage connected between an operation switching valve and an air cylinder, and that supplies air to and discharges air from a cylinder chamber of the air cylinder; a first flow rate adjustment part provided in the first flow passage; a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage; a pilot check valve provided at a point along the second flow passage; a second flow rate adjustment part connected in series to the pilot check valve at a point along the second flow passage; a pilot air flow passage, one end of which communicates with the operation switching valve and the other end of which is connected to a pilot port of the pilot check valve; and a third flow rate adjustment part provided in the pilot air flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Publication number: 20220333622
    Abstract: An air cylinder in which a flow rate controller is built in, has a head cover and a rod cover. A pilot air adjustment unit guides exhaust air to a switch valve of the flow rate controller as pilot air, and the switch valve is switched by an increase in the pressure of the pilot air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Publication number: 20220325728
    Abstract: A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a cylinder flow passage connected to an air cylinder; a main flow passage for supplying air to and discharging air from the air cylinder; an auxiliary flow passage that has a first throttle valve and through which exhaust air discharged from the air cylinder passes with a smaller flow rate than that of the main flow passage; a switch valve that switches between a first position in which the cylinder flow passage communicates with the main flow passage and a second position in which the cylinder flow passage communicates with the auxiliary flow passage; and a pilot air adjustment part that guides a portion of the exhaust air from the air cylinder as pilot air to the switch valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Publication number: 20220316501
    Abstract: In a flow rate controller and a drive device, a housing is provided therein with a first flow passage, a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage, a first throttle valve provided to the first flow passage, and a second throttle valve provided to the second flow passage. A pilot check valve is provided to the second flow passage and is connected in series to the second throttle valve. A pilot air flow passage communicates with a pilot port of the pilot check valve for supplying and discharging pilot air, and a third throttle valve is provided to the pilot air flow passage. In response to the pressure of the pilot air, the pilot check valve switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air discharged from an air cylinder is permitted and a state in which passage of the exhaust air is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Patent number: 11421716
    Abstract: A gas cylinder includes supply passages for supplying, to an accommodation chamber, a part of gas supplied to a second port. When the pressure in a first pressure chamber is equal to or lower than a prescribed pressure, a valve element closes a discharge flow passage by the biasing force of a spring member and the pressure in the accommodation chamber. When the pressure in the first pressure chamber exceeds the prescribed pressure, the valve element is moved by the pressure in the first pressure chamber, against the biasing force and the pressure in the accommodation chamber, to thereby open the discharge flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Naoki Shinjo, Akihiro Kazama
  • Publication number: 20210404486
    Abstract: A main flow path that introduces high-pressure air to an air cylinder, or discharges exhaust air therefrom, includes a sub flow path provided alongside the main flow path; an exhaust flow rate adjustment unit that suppresses the operation speed of the air cylinder by adjusting the flow rate of the exhaust air flowing through the sub flow path; and a switching valve that is connected between the air cylinder, the main flow path and the sub flow path, and that connects the main flow path and the sub flow path to the air cylinder in a switching manner. The switching valve is constituted by a spool valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kengo MONDEN
  • Publication number: 20210388855
    Abstract: A gas cylinder includes supply passages for supplying, to an accommodation chamber, a part of gas supplied to a second port. When the pressure in a first pressure chamber is equal to or lower than a prescribed pressure, a valve element closes a discharge flow passage by the biasing force of a spring member and the pressure in the accommodation chamber. When the pressure in the first pressure chamber exceeds the prescribed pressure, the valve element is moved by the pressure in the first pressure chamber, against the biasing force and the pressure in the accommodation chamber, to thereby open the discharge flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Naoki SHINJO, Akihiro KAZAMA
  • Patent number: 10927857
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder driving device includes a switch valve, a high pressure air supply source, an exhaust port and a check valve. When the switch valve is at a first position, a head side cylinder chamber communicates with the high pressure air supply source, and a rod side cylinder chamber communicates with the exhaust port. When the switch valve is at a second position, the head side cylinder chamber communicates with the rod side cylinder chamber via the check valve, and the head side cylinder chamber communicates with the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden, Aki Iwamoto, Naoki Shinjo, Kazutaka Someya, Akihiro Kazama
  • Patent number: 10883523
    Abstract: A cylinder main body of a fluid pressure cylinder includes a switch valve, a check valve, and a flow path communicating a high pressure air supply source with a head side cylinder chamber and communicating an exhaust port with a rod side cylinder chamber when the switch valve is at a second position. Another flow path communicates the head side cylinder chamber with the rod side cylinder chamber and the exhaust port when the switch valve is at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Hiroyuki Asahara, Kengo Monden, Aki Iwamoto, Naoki Shinjo, Kazutaka Someya, Akihiro Kazama
  • Publication number: 20200355203
    Abstract: An air cylinder fluid circuit is formed by connecting a switching valve, which switches the supply and discharge of compressed air, and cylinder port parts of an air cylinder by means of pipes, wherein the acoustic velocity conductance of the pipes is smaller than the acoustic velocity conductance of the switching valve and the cylinder port parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKADA, Tsuyoshi ASABA, Akihiro KAZAMA, Mitsuru SENOO, Gohei HARIMOTO