Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Murao

Hitoshi Murao 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: 20240364035
    Abstract: A structure includes a first plate-shaped portion having electric conductivity, and a second plate-shaped portion having electric conductivity. The first plate-shaped portion includes an elastic member provided with a bending portion that protrudes toward the second plate-shaped portion and comes into contact with the second plate-shaped portion to establish electrical continuity between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion. The surface of the bending portion facing the second plate-shaped portion includes a smooth portion and an asperity portion having a roughness that is greater than a roughness of the smooth portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: YU TAKAHASHI, MAKOTO NISHINO, SHOJI SASAKI, YOSHIYUKI BENIYA, HITOSHI MURAO
  • Patent number: 11872755
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting portion, a powder supplying portion, a flattening member, a curing portion, and a controller. The supporting portion is configured to detachably support a shaping stage. The powder supplying portion is configured to supply powder. The flattening member is configured to move in a scanning manner above the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion. The controller is configured to execute a measuring process of detecting inclination between a shaping surface of the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion and a trajectory plane of a trajectory of scanning movement of the flattening member, an adjustment process of adjusting an orientation of the shaping stage on a basis of a detection result of the measuring process such that a degree of parallel between the shaping surface and the trajectory plane increases, a powder layer formation process, and a curing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kota Kiyohara, Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 11648736
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes an ejection portion, a base stage, a movement portion, and a controller. The ejection portion configured to eject a fused thermoplastic resin. The movement portion configured to change relative positions of the ejection portion and the base stage. The controller configured to control the movement portion and the ejection portion such that a wall is formed by ejecting a fused thermoplastic resin from the ejection portion while relatively moving the ejection portion with respect to the base stage to provide a space surrounded by the wall in a horizontal direction and open in an upward direction, and such that a filling portion is formed by injecting a fused thermoplastic resin into the space from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11633912
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally shaped object includes a first powder-layer forming process in which a first portion of at least one thickness determining member forms a powder layer by moving in contact with powder, a solidifying process in which a solidified portion is formed in the powder layer formed in the first powder-layer forming process, a second powder-layer forming process, performed after the solidifying process, in which a second portion of the at least one thickness determining member forms a powder layer by moving in contact with the powder, and a renewal process performed between the first powder-layer forming process and the second powder-layer forming process. In the renewal process, the portion having been in contact with the powder is renewed such that the second portion is different from the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 11413814
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a base, a layer forming portion configured to form a powder layer having a predetermined thickness by moving in a space above the base, an irradiation portion configured to irradiate the powder layer with an energy beam, a detection portion configured to detect a projecting portion formed on a solidified portion and a position of the projecting portion, and a control unit. The solidified portion is formed by irradiating the powder layer with the energy beam from the irradiation portion. A height of the projecting portion is larger than the predetermined thickness. The layer forming portion includes a high-rigidity thickness-determining portion and a low-rigidity thickness-determining portion. The control unit is configured to control operation of the high-rigidity thickness-determining portion and the low-rigidity thickness-determining portion, depending on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 11300752
    Abstract: An optical component includes a skeleton structural portion, and an optical characteristic portion combined with the skeleton structural portion, made of a resin material and having a predetermined optical characteristics. The skeleton structural portion defines a plurality of regularly disposed openings and the resin material of the optical characteristic portion fits into the openings such that the skeleton structural portion is combined with the optical characteristic portion through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Arai, Kenji Matsuda, Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 11235393
    Abstract: A method of producing a three-dimensionally shaped object includes a step of equipping an additive manufacturing apparatus with a plate, a step of forming a support portion by depositing raw material powder on the plate and radiating light, a step of forming a three-dimensionally shaped object by depositing raw material powder on the support portion and radiating light, and a step of separating the three-dimensionally shaped object from the support portion. In the step of forming the support portion, a low-density support portion and a high-density support portion are formed. The low-density support portion has a lower density than a three-dimensionally shaped portion formed in the step of forming the three-dimensionally shaped object. The high-density support portion has a higher density than the low-density support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 11007706
    Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a heating portion, a nozzle, a member, and an ejection port switching portion. The heating portion configured to heat and fuse a thermoplastic resin. The nozzle configured to guide the fused thermoplastic resin to an ejection port. The member disposed to be slidable on a distal end surface of the nozzle and provided with plural openings. The ejection port switching portion configured to align one opening among the plural openings with a distal end of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20210114286
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes an ejection portion, a base stage, a movement portion, and a controller. The ejection portion configured to eject a fused thermoplastic resin. The movement portion configured to change relative positions of the ejection portion and the base stage. The controller configured to control the movement portion and the ejection portion such that a wall is formed by ejecting a fused thermoplastic resin from the ejection portion while relatively moving the ejection portion with respect to the base stage to provide a space surrounded by the wall in a horizontal direction and open in an upward direction, and such that a filling portion is formed by injecting a fused thermoplastic resin into the space from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210053279
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally shaped object includes a first powder-layer forming process in which a first portion of at least one thickness determining member forms a powder layer by moving in contact with powder, a solidifying process in which a solidified portion is formed in the powder layer formed in the first powder-layer forming process, a second powder-layer forming process, performed after the solidifying process, in which a second portion of the at least one thickness determining member forms a powder layer by moving in contact with the powder, and a renewal process performed between the first powder-layer forming process and the second powder-layer forming process. In the renewal process, the portion having been in contact with the powder is renewed such that the second portion is different from the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Patent number: 10906234
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes an ejection portion, a base stage, a movement portion, and a controller. The ejection portion configured to eject a fused thermoplastic resin. The movement portion configured to change relative positions of the ejection portion and the base stage. The controller configured to control the movement portion and the ejection portion such that a wall is formed by ejecting a fused thermoplastic resin from the ejection portion while relatively moving the ejection portion with respect to the base stage to provide a space surrounded by the wall in a horizontal direction and open in an upward direction, and such that a filling portion is formed by injecting a fused thermoplastic resin into the space from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20200361147
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting portion, a powder supplying portion, a flattening member, a curing portion, and a controller. The supporting portion is configured to detachably support a shaping stage. The powder supplying portion is configured to supply powder. The flattening member is configured to move in a scanning manner above the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion. The controller is configured to execute a measuring process of detecting inclination between a shaping surface of the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion and a trajectory plane of a trajectory of scanning movement of the flattening member, an adjustment process of adjusting an orientation of the shaping stage on a basis of a detection result of the measuring process such that a degree of parallel between the shaping surface and the trajectory plane increases, a powder layer formation process, and a curing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kota Kiyohara, Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20200262139
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a base, a layer forming portion configured to form a powder layer having a predetermined thickness by moving in a space above the base, an irradiation portion configured to irradiate the powder layer with an energy beam, a detection portion configured to detect a projecting portion formed on a solidified portion and a position of the projecting portion, and a control unit. The solidified portion is formed by irradiating the powder layer with the energy beam from the irradiation portion. A height of the projecting portion is larger than the predetermined thickness. The layer forming portion includes a high-rigidity thickness-determining portion and a low-rigidity thickness-determining portion. The control unit is configured to control operation of the high-rigidity thickness-determining portion and the low-rigidity thickness-determining portion, depending on a detection result by the detection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20180180834
    Abstract: An optical component includes a skeleton structural portion, and an optical characteristic portion combined with the skeleton structural portion, made of a resin material and having a predetermined optical characteristics. The skeleton structural portion defines a plurality of regularly disposed openings and the resin material of the optical characteristic portion fits into the openings such that the skeleton structural portion is combined with the optical characteristic portion through the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Takashi Arai, Kenji Matsuda, Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20180169757
    Abstract: A method of producing a three-dimensionally shaped object includes a step of equipping an additive manufacturing apparatus with a plate, a step of forming a support portion by depositing raw material powder on the plate and radiating light, a step of forming a three-dimensionally shaped object by depositing raw material powder on the support portion and radiating light, and a step of separating the three-dimensionally shaped object from the support portion. In the step of forming the support portion, a low-density support portion and a high-density support portion are formed. The low-density support portion has a lower density than a three-dimensionally shaped portion formed in the step of forming the three-dimensionally shaped object. The high-density support portion has a higher density than the low-density support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20180117834
    Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a heating portion, a nozzle, a member, and an ejection port switching portion. The heating portion configured to heat and fuse a thermoplastic resin. The nozzle configured to guide the fused thermoplastic resin to an ejection port. The member disposed to be slidable on a distal end surface of the nozzle and provided with plural openings. The ejection port switching portion configured to align one opening among the plural openings with a distal end of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Hitoshi Murao
  • Publication number: 20180111313
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes an ejection portion, a base stage, a movement portion, and a controller. The ejection portion configured to eject a fused thermoplastic resin. The movement portion configured to change relative positions of the ejection portion and the base stage. The controller configured to control the movement portion and the ejection portion such that a wall is formed by ejecting a fused thermoplastic resin from the ejection portion while relatively moving the ejection portion with respect to the base stage to provide a space surrounded by the wall in a horizontal direction and open in an upward direction, and such that a filling portion is formed by injecting a fused thermoplastic resin into the space from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Yoshiyuki Beniya, Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9533511
    Abstract: A holding member has a hole with a front tapered shape in a sliding direction of a sliding portion, and the hole and the sliding portion engage with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Kenji Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 9289958
    Abstract: A molding die for molding a resin-made roller shaft therein includes: a cavity for molding the roller shaft therein; and a holding member which is provided on an end of the cavity and holds both ends in an axial direction of the roller shaft, wherein the holding member can rotate the roller shaft around a axis of the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Takashi Arai, Kenji Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20150321482
    Abstract: A holding member has a hole with a front tapered shape in a sliding direction of a sliding portion, and the hole and the sliding portion engage with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Hitoshi MURAO, Kenji Higashiyama