Patents by Inventor Akio Hosaka

Akio Hosaka 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).

  • Patent number: 11684987
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machining apparatus is provided. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes an upper support that supports an upper guide unit that guides a wire electrode on an upper side. The upper support includes an arm having a lower end provided with the upper guide unit, an axis drive portion moving the arm in at least one axial direction and made of a material that has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than ceramics, and an adjustment block connecting the arm and the axis drive portion and made of ceramics. The adjustment block is fixed at a position where a displacement of the upper guide unit caused by expansion and contraction of the upper support is suppressed by a bimetal effect occurring on a fastening surface of the axis drive portion and the adjustment block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Sakaguchi, Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 11660693
    Abstract: An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 11285555
    Abstract: In a wire electrical discharge machining device, a wire electrode released from a wire bobbin can be supplied toward a wire electrical discharge machining portion without generating permanently bending or twisting. A first pulley, which receives a wire electrode fed out from a wire bobbin and delivers the wire electrode to the downstream side, is disposed to wind the wire electrode WE to a first delivery position of an outer peripheral portion opposite to a first reception position across a central portion in a radial direction and deliver the wire electrode WE downward. The first pulley is swingable in the horizontal direction with one end in the radial direction as a fulcrum. The swing fulcrum is disposed, in the width direction of the wire bobbin, within a range from one end to the other end in the width direction of the wire bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 11219962
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a ram extending in a longitudinal direction and being disposed horizontally, a processing head attached to the ram, a tower connected to the ram in a state of upwardly standing at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the ram and having an adjustable height, a front arm connected to a front portion of the ram, and a rear arm connected to a rear portion of the ram. The tower includes a base portion fixed to the ram, an arm connection portion connecting the front arm and the rear arm, and a jack-up bolt. The jack-up bolt is in contact with one of the base portion and the arm connection portion in a vertical direction, and threadingly engaged to the other one of the base portion and the arm connection portion. The jack-up bolt pushes the arm connection portion upwardly by screwing or unscrewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20210387275
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machining apparatus is provided. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes an upper support that supports an upper guide unit that guides a wire electrode on an upper side. The upper support includes an arm having a lower end provided with the upper guide unit, an axis drive portion moving the arm in at least one axial direction and made of a material that has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than ceramics, and an adjustment block connecting the arm and the axis drive portion and made of ceramics. The adjustment block is fixed at a position where a displacement of the upper guide unit caused by expansion and contraction of the upper support is suppressed by a bimetal effect occurring on a fastening surface of the axis drive portion and the adjustment block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi SAKAGUCHI, Akio HOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20210316381
    Abstract: An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio HOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20200368836
    Abstract: In a wire electrical discharge machining device, a wire electrode released from a wire bobbin can be supplied toward a wire electrical discharge machining portion without generating permanently bending or twisting. A first pulley, which receives a wire electrode fed out from a wire bobbin and delivers the wire electrode to the downstream side, is disposed to wind the wire electrode WE to a first delivery position of an outer peripheral portion opposite to a first reception position across a central portion in a radial direction and deliver the wire electrode WE downward. The first pulley is swingable in the horizontal direction with one end in the radial direction as a fulcrum. The swing fulcrum is disposed, in the width direction of the wire bobbin, within a range from one end to the other end in the width direction of the wire bobbin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio HOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20200147707
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a ram extending in a longitudinal direction and being disposed horizontally, a processing head attached to the ram, a tower connected to the ram in a state of upwardly standing at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the ram and having an adjustable height, a front arm connected to a front portion of the ram, and a rear arm connected to a rear portion of the ram. The tower includes a base portion fixed to the ram, an arm connection portion connecting the front arm and the rear arm, and a jack-up bolt. The jack-up bolt is in contact with one of the base portion and the arm connection portion in a vertical direction, and threadingly engaged to the other one of the base portion and the arm connection portion. The jack-up bolt pushes the arm connection portion upwardly by screwing or unscrewing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: AKIO HOSAKA
  • Patent number: 9579763
    Abstract: A machine tool including: a table disposed on a saddle movable along an X-axis; a pair of linear motors that moves the table along a Y-axis; position detectors that detect a first position and a second position of the table on the Y-axis; a pair of guide rails attached to the saddle; and four bearings engaged with the pair of guide rails, is provided. The machine tool includes a connecting unit connecting the table to the four bearings such that the table is rotatable relative to the four bearings, and a control unit that controls the pair of linear motors on the basis of the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9440301
    Abstract: A sinker electric discharge machining apparatus includes a quill 10, to which a tool electrode is attached, and a linear motor device configured to generate a linear movement of the quill towards a workpiece. The quill includes a plate member 11 made of a metal or an alloy, a first reinforcing member 51 fixed to a front surface 14 of the plate member, a second reinforcing member 52 fixed to the front surface of the plate member, a third reinforcing member 53 fixed to a back surface 15 of the plate member and disposed opposite to the first reinforcing member across the plate member, and a fourth reinforcing member 54 fixed to the back surface of the plate member and disposed opposite to the second reinforcing member across the plate member. The quill has a cross-section that is symmetric in a width direction of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Okazaki, Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9018559
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic wire threader for a wire electric discharge machining apparatus including a jet nozzle (20). The jet nozzle includes a first finger and a second finger (21, 22) that are movable between their open positions where a jet nozzle hole (28) is undefined and their closed positions where the jet nozzle hole is defined. The jet nozzle further includes a compression coil spring (60) for urging the first finger and the second finger to their open positions. A moving device moves the jet nozzle from the retracted position to the operational position, so as to bring the first finger and the second finger in contact with a flush nozzle, thereby moving the first finger and the second finger against the a compression coil spring toward their closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20140367364
    Abstract: A sinker electric discharge machining apparatus includes a quill 10, to which a tool electrode is attached, and a linear motor device configured to generate a linear movement of the quill towards a workpiece. The quill includes a plate member 11 made of a metal or an alloy, a first reinforcing member 51 fixed to a front surface 14 of the plate member, a second reinforcing member 52 fixed to the front surface of the plate member, a third reinforcing member 53 fixed to a back surface 15 of the plate member and disposed opposite to the first reinforcing member across the plate member, and a fourth reinforcing member 54 fixed to the back surface of the plate member and disposed opposite to the second reinforcing member across the plate member. The quill has a cross-section that is symmetric in a width direction of the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: SHUJI OKAZAKI, AKIO HOSAKA
  • Patent number: 8888083
    Abstract: A movement device includes: a linear motor including a mover and a stator and moving a movement body including the mover in one axial direction; a rotational motor having a rotor and included in the movement body; and a control device. The rotation axis of the rotor passes through the center of gravity of the movement body and intersects a plane including the center of gravity and the path of movement of the mover. The control device controls the rotation of the rotor so that the counter rotational torque which compensates at least a part of rotational torque acting on the movement body due to the movement of the mover is generated in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20140033854
    Abstract: A machine tool including: a table disposed on a saddle movable along an X-axis; a pair of linear motors that moves the table along a Y-axis; position detectors that detect a first position and a second position of the table on the Y-axis; a pair of guide rails attached to the saddle; and four bearings engaged with the pair of guide rails, is provided. The machine tool includes a connecting unit connecting the table to the four bearings such that the table is rotatable relative to the four bearings, and a control unit that controls the pair of linear motors on the basis of the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20130320781
    Abstract: A movement device includes: a linear motor including a mover and a stator and moving a movement body including the mover in one axial direction; a rotational motor having a rotor and included in the movement body; and a control device. The rotation axis of the rotor passes through the center of gravity of the movement body and intersects a plane including the center of gravity and the path of movement of the mover. The control device controls the rotation of the rotor so that the counter rotational torque which compensates at least a part of rotational torque acting on the movement body due to the movement of the mover is generated in the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20130037522
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic wire threader for a wire electric discharge machining apparatus including a jet nozzle (20). The jet nozzle includes a first finger and a second finger (21, 22) that are movable between their open positions where a jet nozzle hole (28) is undefined and their closed positions where the jet nozzle hole is defined. The jet nozzle further includes bias means (60) for urging the first finger and the second finger to their open positions. A moving device moves the jet nozzle from the retracted position to the operational position, so as to bring the first finger and the second finger in contact with a flush nozzle, thereby moving the first finger and the second finger against the bias means toward their closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 6736501
    Abstract: A platen structure for a printer includes rigid members and a plurality of support parts disposed along the platen length to support a recording medium. Any warp due to integrated molding of the platen or any aging change due to influence of environmental conditions can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Yukio Honda, Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 6651987
    Abstract: A seal for preventing leakage of fluid from an opening (42) formed in a side wall (41) of a work tank (40) of a wire electric discharge machine comprises a slide plate (1) movable with respect to the work tank for closing the opening, and a rail member (22) attached to the work tank for guiding movements of the slide plate. The slide plate gas a waterproof thin flexible strip (13) and a number of rigid blocks (11, 12) attached to the flexible strip and arranged in a row so as to engage with each other at the edges. The rigid block gas a convex edge (111) and a concave edge (112) complementary to the convex edge. A method of forming the seal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 6538227
    Abstract: An electric discharge machine having an electrode mounting device (42) for mounting a tool electrode, a quill (41) movable in the vertical direction and having the tool mounting device attached to a lower end, at least two linear motor movers (43, 44) attached to the quill and disposed symmetrically about the central axis of the quill, at least two linear motor stators (31, 32), each disposed opposite one of the at least two movers, and a balance device (6) for balancing a gravitational force acting on the quill. The balance device has an air cylinder (60) arranged coaxially with the quill so that a balance force having a force vector aligned with the central axis of the quill is generated. The air cylinder is preferably mounted in a hole formed in the center of the quill and extends in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Sodick Co., Ltd., KHS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Sano, Akio Hosaka
  • Patent number: 6533927
    Abstract: A dielectric fluid system (2) for an electric discharge machining apparatus includes an auxiliary tank (22) positioned at or higher than a work tank (12) and a dielectric fluid reservoir (21), a filter device (23), and a first pump (P1) and a second pump (P2) upstream and downstream of the filter device 23. Dielectric fluid in the dielectric fluid reservoir (21) is filtered by the filter device (23), and pumped to the auxiliary tank (22) using the first and second pumps (P1) and (P2). The filtered dielectric fluid is then rapid fed from the auxiliary tank (22) to the work tank (12). During electric discharge machining, dielectric fluid is pumped from the work tank (12), filtered, then cooled and circulated directly back to the work tank (12). A flushing pipe line and a third pump (P3) may be added into the circulating pipe line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Hosaka