Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Asahara

Hiroyuki Asahara 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: 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: 11933328
    Abstract: In a cylinder drive device, a throttle valve and a second check valve are provided between a switch valve and a first cylinder chamber of a fluid pressure cylinder. The cylinder drive device has a flow channel unit which is interposed between a manifold and the switch valve, which allows communication between the throttle valve and the second check valve and switch valve, and which communicates with a plurality of holes in the manifold to allow a fluid to flow to the switch valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Asahara, Kazutaka Someya
  • 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: 11835070
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder has a sensor attachment tool mounted thereon. A holder holds the position sensor in a rail structure extending in an axial direction of a cylinder tube and is secured by screwing to a rod cover or a head cover in an arm part provided to one end of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Machijima, Hiroyuki Asahara, Aki Iwamoto, Shiori Iwatsuki
  • 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: 20220364580
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder has a sensor attachment tool mounted thereon. A holder holds the position sensor in a rail structure extending in an axial direction of a cylinder tube and is secured by screwing to a rod cover or a head cover in an arm part provided to one end of the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru MACHIJIMA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Aki IWAMOTO, Shiori IWATSUKI
  • 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: 11261885
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder includes a first cylinder portion and a second cylinder portion disposed in parallel, and a supply-and-discharge port. The first cylinder portion is partitioned by a first piston into a head-side first accumulation chamber and a rod-side second accumulation chamber. The second cylinder portion is partitioned by a second piston into a head-side release chamber and a rod-side drive chamber. Pressurized fluid is supplied to and discharged from the second accumulation chamber and the drive chamber through the supply-and-discharge port. An end of a first piston rod connected to the first piston and an end of a second piston rod connected to the second piston are connected to each other. The first piston includes a communication switching valve switching communication between the first accumulation chamber and the second accumulation chamber, between enabled and disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji Takakuwa, Hiroyuki Asahara, Seiichi Nagura
  • Publication number: 20220018341
    Abstract: In a cylinder drive device, a throttle valve and a second check valve are provided between a switch valve and a first cylinder chamber of a fluid pressure cylinder. The cylinder drive device has a flow channel unit which is interposed between a manifold and the switch valve, which allows communication between the throttle valve and the second check valve and switch valve, and which communicates with a plurality of holes in the manifold to allow a fluid to flow to the switch valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Kazutaka SOMEYA
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11181127
    Abstract: The present invention allows the number of components to be reduced and assembly work to be easily performed. A cylinder drive manifold device that constitutes a cylinder drive apparatus is provided with a block-shaped manifold in which a plurality of holes are formed for circulating a fluid used for driving a plurality of fluid pressure cylinders. The manifold is configured such that a plurality of switching valves for supplying a fluid alternately to a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber of each of the fluid pressure cylinders are attachable. A plurality of check valves and a plurality of throttle valves are incorporated into the plurality of holes of the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Asahara, Kazutaka Someya
  • Publication number: 20210317850
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder includes a first cylinder portion and a second cylinder portion disposed in parallel, and a supply-and-discharge port. The first cylinder portion is partitioned by a first piston into a head-side first accumulation chamber and a rod-side second accumulation chamber. The second cylinder portion is partitioned by a second piston into a head-side release chamber and a rod-side drive chamber. Pressurized fluid is supplied to and discharged from the second accumulation chamber and the drive chamber through the supply-and-discharge port. An end of a first piston rod connected to the first piston and an end of a second piston rod connected to the second piston are connected to each other. The first piston includes a communication switching valve switching communication between the first accumulation chamber and the second accumulation chamber, between enabled and disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youji TAKAKUWA, Hiroyuki ASAHARA, Seiichi NAGURA
  • Patent number: D948579
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Asahara
  • Patent number: D951999
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Asahara