Patents by Inventor Atsuhiro Kawamoto

Atsuhiro Kawamoto 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: 11806806
    Abstract: A joint structure includes a first material (1), a second material (2) weldable to the first material, and a third material (3) at least a portion of which being sandwiched between the first material and the second material, having a through opening portion at the sandwiched portion, and including a material that is difficult to be welded to both the first material and the second material, the first material and the second material welded the via through opening portion. At least one of the first material and the second material is provided with a protrusion (14) inserted in the through opening portion. A first gap (4) is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the through opening portion and the protrusion. A second gap (5) is provided between the first material and the second material, the second gap having a size depending on a plate thickness of the first material in a region corresponding to the protrusion. Under a condition in which the second gap has a size of greater than or equal to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Shigeki Yonemori
  • Publication number: 20230158606
    Abstract: Provided is a laser welding method including a welding step of welding a workpiece by irradiating a surface of a workpiece with a laser beam that is swept two-dimensionally while being advanced in an X direction. In the welding step, the laser beam is swept to draw a predetermined pattern on the surface of the workpiece. Additionally, drawing speed and output of the laser beam are controlled to have an equal amount of heat input per unit drawing length in the predetermined pattern over the entire length of the predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is a continuous pattern in which two annular patterns are in contact with each other at one point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: JINGBO WANG, TSUTOMU SUGIYAMA, SHUNSUKE KAWAI, KENZO SHIBATA, MASASHI ISHIGURO, ATSUHIRO KAWAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11536305
    Abstract: A junction structure includes a first material that is a metallic material, a third material that is a metallic material and is weldable to the first material, and a second material which is a nonferrous metallic material or a nonmetallic material. The second material is sandwiched and fixed between the first material and the third material by lap joining. At least one of the first material or the third material has a weld zone where the first material and the third material are melted and joined together, and at least one exhaust groove or at least one exhaust hole around the weld zone. The at least one exhaust groove or the at least one exhaust hole penetrates a thickness of the at least one of the first material or the third material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Tatsuyuki Nakagawa, Toru Sakai
  • Patent number: 11525469
    Abstract: A junction structure includes a first metallic material, a second material different in type from the first metallic material, and a welding wire as a third material similar to the first metallic material. The second material is stacked on the first material. The molten metal of the third metallic material is deposited by arc welding into the through part of the second material so as to form a flanged or tapered bead, so that the first and third metallic materials and the second material are fixed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 11376691
    Abstract: A joint structure includes: a first same-type metal member; a second same-type metal member that can be mutually welded with the first same-type metal member; and a different-type member that has a penetrating portion, is interposed between the first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member. In the plate thickness direction of an emission region in which a laser beam is emitted toward the penetrating portion, the plate thickness at the emission region of the first same-type metal member positioned on the side on which the laser beam is emitted is a predetermined thickness corresponding to a first gap. The first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member are fused and bonded together via the penetrating portion, and the different-type member is compressed and fixed, such that the different-type member is fixed to the first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11285560
    Abstract: To provide a compact welding torch in which a motor can be easily replaced, in which, when a motor capable of high-speed welding is used for a long time in a high current region, heat generated by the motor can be sufficiently cooled, and in which the motor can be protected from spatters or the like. A first cooler that cools a first side surface of a motor parallel to a shaft of the motor and a second cooler that cools a second side surface of the motor different from the first side surface are included. The first cooler has a first inflow port and a first outflow port for a cooling fluid, and a first flow passage that connects the first inflow port and the first outflow port. The second cooler has a second inflow port and a second outflow port for the cooling fluid, and a second flow passage that connects the second inflow port and the second outflow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Fukumitsu, Takashi Nagai, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Kaito Matsui
  • Patent number: 11267064
    Abstract: A method of controlling arc welding with a consumable electrode includes repeating the following periods in sequence: a short-circuit welding period to perform short-circuit arc welding; a pulse welding period to perform pulse welding; and a cooling period in which the welding current output is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Furuyama, Shigeki Yonemori, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Noriyuki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20210388859
    Abstract: A joint structure includes a first metallic material having a first projection, a second metallic material similar to and weldable to the first metallic material, and a different material having a first penetrating part and sandwiched between the first and second metallic materials, the different material being difficult to weld to the first and second metallic materials. The first projection is smaller than the first penetrating part and is spaced from the rim of the first penetrating part. The first projection is positioned in the first penetrating part and spaced from the second metallic material by a gap. The gap has a size of a predetermined percentage of the thickness of the first projection to which arc welding is applied. The first and second metallic materials are melted and joined together inside the first penetrating part to compress and fix the different material, so all three are fixed together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Junji FUJIWARA, Atsuhiro KAWAMOTO, Hitoshi NISHIMURA, Yasushi MUKAI, Shigeki YONEMORI
  • Patent number: 11110547
    Abstract: A laser welding method according to the present disclosure includes a coupling forming step and a welding step. In the coupling forming step, a T coupling is formed by superimposing a side surface of a first member and a lower surface of a second member on each other. In the welding step, an upper surface of the second member opposite to the lower surface is irradiated with a laser beam so that the first member and the second member are welded to each other by the laser beam. Moreover, in the welding step, the laser beam is moved in a direction along the side surface of the first member while being weaved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Yasushi Mukai, Junji Fujiwara, Tatsuyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11052483
    Abstract: A laser welding device includes a welding head configured to emit a laser beam to a working point, a shield gas supplying nozzle configured to supply shield gas to the working point, and a high-speed air supplying nozzle configured to supply a high-speed air stream between the shield gas supplying nozzle and the welding head, the high-speed air stream having a flow rate that is larger than a flow rate of the shield gas, and being supplied in a horizontal direction directly above the shield gas supplied to the working point, or in a direction orthogonal to an emission direction of the laser beam. The high-speed air supplying nozzle is disposed in a range from 80 mm to 200 mm, both inclusive, above the working point, or in a range equal to or lower than a half of a working distance between an emission surface of the laser beam of the welding head and the working point, and supplies the high-speed air stream in a belt shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Nakagawa, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Noriyuki Matsuoka, Wataru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11020820
    Abstract: A laser welding method of the present disclosure includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, a first end of a first workpiece is positioned such that the first end of the first workpiece is overlapped on a second end of a second workpiece to form a corner joint. In the second step, the first end forming the corner joint is irradiated from above with a laser beam. Additionally, the first end is positioned to protrude relative to the second workpiece in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 11014186
    Abstract: An arc welding method preforms reciprocating wire feed so as to alternately perform forward feed and reverse feed. The arc welding method includes a normal arc welding step, a normal short circuit welding step, and an abnormal arc welding step. In the abnormal arc welding step, a short circuit state occurs at a second time point, which is before a lapse of a second period from a first time point at which an arc state occurs. Further, in the abnormal arc welding step, the reciprocating wire feed continues until a third time point after a lapse of a first period from the second time point. At the third time point, the reciprocating wire feed is stopped and the abnormal arc welding step is completed. From the third time point, the welding wire is decelerated and the reciprocating wire feed is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaito Matsui, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Akira Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10981246
    Abstract: A laser welding method according to the present disclosure includes a step in which a third material is interposed between a first material and a second material, which are made of the same type of metal so as to be weldable to one another, and at least one of which is provided with a protruding portion, wherein the third material is difficult to weld to the first material and the second material and has a through-hole portion into which the protruding portion is inserted. The method also includes a step in which, when the third material is interposed between the first material and the second material, a region corresponding to the protruding portion is irradiated with a laser beam from the first material side, and the first material and the second material are welded via the through-hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Yasushi Mukai, Hitoshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10974338
    Abstract: In thin sheet welding, when a heat input amount relative to a sheet thickness is too large, a welding defect such as a deviation from aim due to occurrence of a strain or burn through may easily occur. When a welding current is decreased to reduce the heat input amount, there is an issue in which an arc tends to become unstable. In arc welding in which short-circuit and arcing are repeated, first heat input period (Th) and second heat input period (Tc) having a heat input amount less than that of first heat input period (Th) are periodically repeated and a welding current during an arc period in second heat input period (Tc) is decreased to extinguish the arc. This reduces the heat input amount into a welding object and suppresses burn through or a strain upon welding, while making the arc stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Furuyama, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Masaru Kowa, Kaito Matsui
  • Patent number: 10919100
    Abstract: In thin sheet welding, when a heat input amount relative to a sheet thickness is too large, a welding defect such as a deviation from aim due to occurrence of a strain or burn through may easily occur. When a welding current is decreased to reduce the heat input amount, there is an issue in which an arc tends to become unstable. In arc welding that repeats short-circuit and arcing, first heat input period (Th) and second heat input period (Tc) having a heat input amount less than that of first heat input period (Th) are periodically repeated. This reduces the heat input amount into a welding object and suppresses burn through and a strain upon welding while making the arc stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Furuyama, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Masaru Kowa, Kaito Matsui
  • Publication number: 20210023656
    Abstract: A laser welding device is configured to switch an irradiation position of a measurement beam between a position of a keyhole coaxial with the optical axis of a laser beam and a position of a weld bead behind the center of an optical axis of the laser beam in a welding direction. The laser welding device determines whether there is a gap between an upper metal plate and a lower metal plate based on a measured value of a recess depth measured at the position of the weld bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Toru SAKAI, Atsuhiro KAWAMOTO, Junji FUJIWARA, Michio SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20200406385
    Abstract: A base material is welded by a first welding method in a case where a welding parameter related to heat input to the base material is less than a first threshold value. The base material is welded by a second welding method in a case where the welding parameter is less than a second threshold value and is more than the first threshold value. The base material is welded by a third welding method in a case where the welding parameter is more than the second threshold value. By adjusting welding conditions regardless of the thickness of the base material, a welding method suitable for the thickness of the base material is determined to provide a welding with little spatter and no meltdown of the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Atsuhiro KAWAMOTO, Kaito MATSUI, Masaru KOWA, Takahiro NOGUCHI, Masashi FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 10870161
    Abstract: In a consumable electrode-type arc welding in which pulse welding and short-circuit welding are alternately repeated, a welding current is controlled such that a welding current immediately before shifting from the pulse welding to the short-circuit welding is lower than a base current in a pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Matsuoka, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Kaito Matsui
  • Patent number: 10850354
    Abstract: A laser welding control method according to the present disclosure includes: a first step of causing a first steel plate having a protrusion and a second steel plate to overlap so that a tip of the protrusion provided on the first steel plate makes contact with the second steel plate; and a second step of irradiating the protrusion with laser light in an irradiation pattern having a size larger than a size of the protrusion in plan view after the first step. At least one of a surface of the first steel plate that faces the second steel plate and a surface of the second steel plate that faces the first steel plate is plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Tatsuyuki Nakagawa, Noriyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10835993
    Abstract: The laser welding method according to the present disclosure has a first step for forming a weld bead by irradiating an object to be welded with a laser beam along a first helical trajectory around a first center of rotation moving in a welding direction, and a second step for irradiating the object to be welded with a laser beam along a second helical trajectory around a second center of rotation moving in the welding direction. A diameter of rotation of the laser beam in the first step is larger than a diameter of rotation of the laser beam in the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Matsuoka, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Tatsuyuki Nakagawa