Patents by Inventor Fumiaki Sekino

Fumiaki Sekino 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: 9701000
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool including a drive source, an impact force generation unit that generates an impact force for converting power from the drive source to pulsed torque, a shaft that transmits the pulsed torque to a bit used to perform a tightening task, a torque measurement unit that measures torque applied to the shaft as measured torque, a rotation angle measurement unit that measures a rotation angle of the shaft, a tightening torque calculation unit that calculates an angular acceleration from the rotation angle to calculate a tightening torque based on the angular acceleration and the measured torque, and a controller that controls the drive source based on the tightening torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichirou Inagaki, Toshiharu Ohashi, Tadashi Arimura, Ryuji Otani, Mitsumasa Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9687972
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool includes a drive source that generates power. An impact force generation unit generates impact force by changing the power generated by the drive source to pulsed torque. A shaft transmits the pulsed torque to the distal tool with the generated impact force. A torque detector generates a signal corresponding to the torque applied to the shaft. A determination unit determines whether or not a torque value obtained from a signal corresponding to the torque has reached a predetermined torque value. A control unit controls the drive source to a predetermined driving state when the determination unit determines that the torque value has reached the predetermined torque value. The determination unit is arranged on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sekino, Toshiharu Ohashi, Tadashi Arimura, Kenichirou Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9579776
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a voltage step-up condition setting operation unit that serves as a human machine interface and a voltage converter capable of performing a voltage step-up operation to raise a voltage supplied from a power supply and supply a raised voltage to a motor. The voltage converter is further capable of changing a voltage step-up level in the voltage step-up operation in accordance with the operation of the voltage step-up condition setting operation unit. A driving state detection unit generates a driving state signal corresponding to a driving state of the electric power tool. A control unit controls a stop timing of the motor in accordance with the driving state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Arimura, Toshiharu Ohashi, Hiroyuki Kaizo, Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichirou Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20160325414
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool includes an impact force generator that changes power of a drive source into pulsed torque to generate impact force. An output shaft transmits the pulsed torque to a bit based on the impact force. A torque measurement unit measures a shaft torque applied to the output shaft. An angular acceleration measurement unit measures angular acceleration of the output shaft. A moment of inertia calculator calculates moment of inertia of the bit coupled to the output shaft when rotated by the output shaft based on the shaft torque and the angular acceleration. A torque calculator calculates tightening torque based on the angular acceleration, the shaft torque, and the moment of inertia. A controller controls the drive source based on the tightening torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Mitsumasa MIZUNO, Fumiaki SEKINO, Ryuji OTANI
  • Patent number: 9108308
    Abstract: A switch operation device is for switching between two or more speed change modes of a speed change mechanism by switching a position of a component for use in speed change included in the speed change mechanism, and includes: a main member that is movable between two positions in the switch operation device in an operating direction; a click spring for stopping the main member at one of the two positions; a switch spring that switches the position of the component in conjunction with movement of the main member; a first holding member provided in the main member, and holds the click spring; and a second holding member provided in the main member, and holds the switch spring, wherein when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction, the first holding and second holding members at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Publication number: 20150021062
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool including a drive source, an impact force generation unit that generates an impact force for converting power from the drive source to pulsed torque, a shaft that transmits the pulsed torque to a bit used to perform a tightening task, a torque measurement unit that measures torque applied to the shaft as measured torque, a rotation angle measurement unit that measures a rotation angle of the shaft, a tightening torque calculation unit that calculates an angular acceleration from the rotation angle to calculate a tightening torque based on the angular acceleration and the measured torque, and a controller that controls the drive source based on the tightening torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Fumiaki SEKINO, Kenichirou INAGAKI, Toshiharu OHASHI, Tadashi ARIMURA, Ryuji OTANI, Mitsumasa MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20140262390
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a voltage step-up condition setting operation unit that serves as a human machine interface and a voltage converter capable of performing a voltage step-up operation to raise a voltage supplied from a power supply and supply a raised voltage to a motor. The voltage converter is further capable of changing a voltage step-up level in the voltage step-up operation in accordance with the operation of the voltage step-up condition setting operation unit. A driving state detection unit generates a driving state signal corresponding to a driving state of the electric power tool. A control unit controls a stop timing of the motor in accordance with the driving state signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi ARIMURA, Toshiharu OHASHI, Hiroyuki KAIZO, Fumiaki SEKINO, Kenichirou INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20140102741
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool includes a drive source that generates power. An impact force generation unit generates impact force by changing the power generated by the drive source to pulsed torque. A shaft transmits the pulsed torque to the distal tool with the generated impact force. A torque detector generates a signal corresponding to the torque applied to the shaft. A determination unit determines whether or not a torque value obtained from a signal corresponding to the torque has reached a predetermined torque value. A control unit controls the drive source to a predetermined driving state when the determination unit determines that the torque value has reached the predetermined torque value. The determination unit is arranged on the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiaki SEKINO, Toshiharu OHASHI, Tadashi ARIMURA, Kenichirou INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 8403073
    Abstract: A changeover operation device, for changing over the positions of at least two components to establish three or more speed modes in a speed changer mechanism accommodated within a housing having an opening, includes operation handles arranged in a corresponding relationship with the components. Each of the operation handles is movable between two specified positions along a specified operation direction to change over the positions of the components. The operation handles are continuously arranged within the opening of the housing, one of the operation handles being partially overlapped with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto, Naotake Tanaka, Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichiro Inagaki, Masao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8381831
    Abstract: A rotary impact tool includes a drive power source for producing rotational power, a drive shaft driven by the rotational power supplied from the drive power source, an output shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft for receiving the rotational power, an impact mechanism operatively couplable with the drive shaft. The rotary impact tool further includes a changeover unit for changing over an impact mode in which the impact mechanism is operated and a drill driver mode in which the rotational power produced by the drive power source is transferred to the output shaft without operating the impact mechanism and a multi-stage speed reduction mechanism for transferring the rotational power produced by the drive power source to the output shaft through the drive shaft at variable speeds in at least three speed modes including a low speed mode, a middle speed mode and a high speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichiro Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto
  • Patent number: 8083007
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a speed reducer unit arranged to deliver the rotational power of the motor and provided with gears, a housing arranged to accommodate the motor and the speed reducer unit, and a speed changing unit for changing a gear reduction ratio of the speed reducer unit. The speed changing unit is arranged in such a position as to be operable outside the housing. The speed changing unit includes an operation lever slidingly operable in a speed changing direction when pushed, an operation detector unit for detecting the operation lever to control electric power supplied to the motor, a shift unit for changing the gear reduction ratio of the speed reducer unit in response to sliding movement of the operation lever, and a slide restraint unit for restraining the sliding operation of the operation lever until the operation detector unit detects the operation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Fumiaki Sekino, Yutaka Yamada
  • Patent number: 7980320
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a reduction mechanism, a driving unit, a bearing unit, a housing, a speed changing unit, a power switch, and an operation detecting unit which detects a reduction ratio changing operation performed by the speed changing unit to control electric power supplied to the motor. The reduction mechanism transfers the rotating power of the motor, and the driving unit transfers the rotating power of the reduction mechanism to a tip end tool. The bearing unit rotatably supports the driving unit, and the housing accommodates the motor, the reduction mechanism, the driving unit and the bearing unit. The speed changing unit changes a reduction ratio of the reduction mechanism, a power switch for turning on and off a power source of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Publication number: 20100186978
    Abstract: A rotary impact tool includes a drive power source for producing rotational power, a drive shaft driven by the rotational power supplied from the drive power source, an output shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft for receiving the rotational power, an impact mechanism operatively couplable with the drive shaft. The rotary impact tool further includes a changeover unit for changing over an impact mode in which the impact mechanism is operated and a drill driver mode in which the rotational power produced by the drive power source is transferred to the output shaft without operating the impact mechanism and a multi-stage speed reduction mechanism for transferring the rotational power produced by the drive power source to the output shaft through the drive shaft at variable speeds in at least three speed modes including a low speed mode, a middle speed mode and a high speed mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichiro Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto
  • Publication number: 20100186976
    Abstract: A changeover operation device, for changing over the positions of at least two components to establish three or more speed modes in a speed changer mechanism accommodated within a housing having an opening, includes operation handles arranged in a corresponding relationship with the components. Each of the operation handles is movable between two specified positions along a specified operation direction to change over the positions of the components. The operation handles are continuously arranged within the opening of the housing, one of the operation handles being partially overlapped with the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto, Naotake Tanaka, Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichiro Inagaki, Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090255361
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a speed reducer unit arranged to deliver the rotational power of the motor and provided with gears, a housing arranged to accommodate the motor and the speed reducer unit, and a speed changing unit for changing a gear reduction ratio of the speed reducer unit. The speed changing unit is arranged in such a position as to be operable outside the housing. The speed changing unit includes an operation lever slidingly operable in a speed changing direction when pushed, an operation detector unit for detecting the operation lever to control electric power supplied to the motor, a shift unit for changing the gear reduction ratio of the speed reducer unit in response to sliding movement of the operation lever, and a slide restraint unit for restraining the sliding operation of the operation lever until the operation detector unit detects the operation lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Fumiaki Sekino, Yutaka Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090160371
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a reduction mechanism, a driving unit, a bearing unit, a housing, a speed changing unit, a power switch, and an operation detecting unit which detects a reduction ratio changing operation performed by the speed changing unit to control electric power supplied to the motor. The reduction mechanism transfers the rotating power of the motor, and the driving unit transfers the rotating power of the reduction mechanism to a tip end tool. The bearing unit rotatably supports the driving unit, and the housing accommodates the motor, the reduction mechanism, the driving unit and the bearing unit. The speed changing unit changes a reduction ratio of the reduction mechanism, a power switch for turning on and off a power source of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Publication number: 20070193762
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor; a battery unit for supplying an electric power for driving the motor; a driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of the motor; a manipulation unit for receiving input data including a rotation number and an on/off manipulation of the motor; a motor control unit for controlling the motor based on the input data from the manipulation unit; and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the battery unit as a temperature value. If the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor while being operated in an normal operation mode is higher than or equal to a first abnormal temperature value, the motor control unit determines that the battery unit is in an abnormal state, and converts an operation mode of the motor to a limited operation mode in which a rotation of the motor is stopped or suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Arimura, Naotake Tanaka, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Patent number: 6918449
    Abstract: There is provided a magnetic impact tool comprising a magnetic hammer driven by a motor, a magnetic anvil disposed so as to face the magnetic hammer, an output shaft that rotates together with the magnetic anvil, a magnetic bypass device for distributing magnetic flux between the magnetic anvil and the magnetic hammer, and a changing device for changing the distribution of magnetic flux with the magnetic bypass device, wherein a rotational impact force is magnetically generated in a non-contact manner for the magnetic anvil in conjunction with the rotation of the magnetic hammer. The torque generated between the magnetic hammer and magnetic anvil can be changed by varying the distribution ratio of the magnetic flux from the magnetic hammer to the magnetic anvil and magnetic bypass device by the changing device. Impact action can be generated, and screw tightening and loosening work can be carried out even if a low-torque motor is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sou Shinagawa, Satoshi Nakayama, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Publication number: 20040238191
    Abstract: There is provided a magnetic impact tool comprising a magnetic hammer driven by a motor, a magnetic anvil disposed so as to face the magnetic hammer, an output shaft that rotates together with the magnetic anvil, a magnetic bypass device for distributing magnetic flux between the magnetic anvil and the magnetic hammer, and a changing device for changing the distribution of magnetic flux with the magnetic bypass device, wherein a rotational impact force is magnetically generated in a non-contact manner for the magnetic anvil in conjunction with the rotation of the magnetic hammer. The torque generated between the magnetic hammer and magnetic anvil can be changed by varying the distribution ratio of the magnetic flux from the magnetic hammer to the magnetic anvil and magnetic bypass device by means of the changing device. A large magnetic impact action can be generated, and screw tightening and loosening work can be carried out even if a low-torque motor is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sou Shinagawa, Satoshi Nakayama, Fumiaki Sekino