Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Shiroza

Kazuhiko Shiroza 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: 7748249
    Abstract: A work conveyance device for a pressing machine, consuming less energy and enabling reduction in production costs. The workpiece conveyance device has a pair of transfer bars provided in parallel to a feed direction, support members for moving each of the transfer bars freely in the feed direction while restricting the transfer bars in a lift direction, linear motors interposed between the support members and the transfer bars for moving the transfer bars in the feed direction relative to the support members, lift devices for moving the support members in the lift direction, and workpiece holding jigs detachably mounted to the transfer bars for holding a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 7690238
    Abstract: A transfer feeder 41 has a lift/clamp device 80 moving a bar 14 in a lift direction and a clamp direction, a plurality of feed carriers 52 installed on the bar 14, and feeding linear motors 53 driving the feed carriers 52 in a feed direction. Since an object driven by the feeding linear motors 53 can be formed small since the feed carriers 52 are installed on the bar 14, the feeding linear motors 53 having a small capacity can be adopted to simplify the structure of a transfer press 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 7410046
    Abstract: A transfer feeder 41 for a transfer press 1 comprises a pair of bars 14 provided on a moving bolster 30 in parallel with a work transfer direction, a feed carrier 52 held by the bars 14 and movable in the work transfer direction, a clamp carrier 62 held by the feed carrier 52 and movable in the direction of clamp, and a lift carrier 72 supported by the clamp carrier 62 and movable in the direction of lift. Since a large drive mechanism is unnecessary, simplification of the construction can be enhanced. Further, since the whole of a transfer feeder 41 is provided on a moving bolster 30, the moving bolster 30 in its entirety can be carried out of the transfer press 1, thus facilitating die exchanging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 7406851
    Abstract: A die cushion controlling apparatus for controlling an operation of a cushion pad, which comprises a pad drive mechanism for driving to raise or lower the cushion pad while applying an upward energizing force, a load measuring unit for measuring a load generated in the cushion pad, a time detecting unit for detecting a generating time and a vanishing time of the load, and a control unit for controlling the pad drive mechanism so that a load measured value measured by the load measuring unit follows a preset load pattern during a period from when the time detecting unit detects the generating time of the load until when the time detecting unit detects the vanishing time of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., KOMATSU Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shiroza, Yukiyoshi Takayama, Hiroaki Honma, Seiji Seki
  • Patent number: 7316149
    Abstract: The present invention provides a work transfer device for transferring a work between adjoining pressing machines including a work holder (30) for holding a work W, a carrier (23) provided between the adjoining pressing machines (10) and capable of being linearly moved in a direction orthogonal to a work transfer direction with a driving mechanism, and a swinging body (71) with a swinging center shaft thereof provided on this carrier (23) and capable of being driven for swinging by a swinging mechanism (84) along the work transfer direction, and the work holder (30) is provided in the swinging body (71). Because of this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a trajectory for swiveling like in a robot arm type of transfer device, not to extend a lift beam up to a position close to a slide like in the feeder type of transfer device, so that it is not necessary to widen a clearance between uprights (12) and a tandem press (1) can be size-reduced as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Baba, Kazuhiko Shiroza, Takashi Moriyasu, Shuuji Mizuguchi
  • Publication number: 20070289352
    Abstract: A work conveyance device for a pressing machine, consuming less energy and enabling reduction in production costs. The workpiece conveyance device has a pair of transfer bars provided in parallel to a feed direction; support members for moving each of the transfer bars freely in the feed direction while restricting the transfer bars in a lift direction; linear motors interposed between the support members and the transfer bars, for moving the transfer bars in the feed direction relative to the support members; lift devices for moving the support members in the lift direction; and workpiece holding jigs detachably mounted to the transfer bars, for holding a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 7287409
    Abstract: A die cushion device is comprised of die cushion modules which are independently movable and unitized. The individual die cushion modules are provided with a cushion pad, a servomotor, a power transmission mechanism, a power conversion mechanism and a guide member. By configuring in this way, the design of the die cushion is facilitated, a drive mechanism of the die cushion becomes compact, and the number of types of parts used is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shiroza, Yukiyoshi Takayama, Hiroaki Honma, Seiji Seki
  • Publication number: 20070051157
    Abstract: A transfer feeder 41 for a transfer press 1 comprises a pair of bars 14 provided on a moving bolster 30 in parallel with a work transfer direction, a feed carrier 52 held by the bars 14 and movable in the work transfer direction, a clamp carrier 62 held by the feed carrier 52 and movable in the direction of clamp, and a lift carrier 72 supported by the clamp carrier 62 and movable in the direction of lift. Since a large drive mechanism is unnecessary, simplification of the construction can be enhanced. Further, since the whole of a transfer feeder 41 is provided on a moving bolster 30, the moving bolster 30 in its entirety can be carried out of the transfer press 1, thus facilitating die exchanging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 7128198
    Abstract: A work piece conveyor whose structure is simplified and downsized with the intention of achieving cost reduction, an improved degree of freedom in setting a motion pattern and improved productive efficiency. The workpiece conveyor is such that a cross bar carrier for supporting a cross bar provided with vacuum cups is movably attached, through a linear movement mechanism, to a feed lever which is oscillating-driven along a workpiece conveying direction, thereby making the relative distance between the center of oscillation of the rocking element and the cross bar variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yoshida, Hidetoshi Akashi, Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Publication number: 20050279151
    Abstract: A die cushion device is comprised of die cushion modules which are independently movable and unitized. The individual die cushion modules are provided with a cushion pad, a servomotor, a power transmission mechanism, a power conversion mechanism and a guide member. By configuring in this way, the design of the die cushion is facilitated, a drive mechanism of the die cushion becomes compact, and the number of types of parts used is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shiroza, Yukiyoshi Takayama, Hiroaki Honma, Seiji Seki
  • Publication number: 20050274243
    Abstract: A die cushion controlling apparatus for controlling an operation of a cushion pad, which comprises a pad drive mechanism for driving to raise or lower the cushion pad while applying an upward energizing force, a load measuring unit for measuring a load generated in the cushion pad, a time detecting unit for detecting a generating time and a vanishing time of the load, and a control unit for controlling the pad drive mechanism so that a load measured value measured by the load measuring unit follows a preset load pattern during a period from when the time detecting unit detects the generating time of the load until when the time detecting unit detects the vanishing time of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Shiroza, Yukiyoshi Takayama, Hiroaki Honma, Seiji Seki
  • Publication number: 20050178641
    Abstract: A work piece conveyor whose structure is simplified and downsized with the intention of achieving cost reduction, an improved degree of freedom in setting a motion pattern and improved productive efficiency. The workpiece conveyor is such that a cross bar carrier for supporting a cross bar provided with vacuum cups is movably attached, through a linear movement mechanism, to a feed lever which is oscillating-driven along a workpiece conveying direction, thereby making the relative distance between the center of oscillation of the rocking element and the cross bar variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Yoshida, Hidetoshi Akashi, Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Publication number: 20050166659
    Abstract: The present invention provides a work transfer device for transferring a work between adjoining pressing machines including a work holder (30) for holding a work W, a carrier (23) provided between the adjoining pressing machines (10) and capable of being linearly moved in a direction orthogonal to a work transfer direction with a driving mechanism, and a swinging body (71) with a swinging center shaft thereof provided on this carrier (23) and capable of being driven for swinging by a swinging mechanism (84) along the work transfer direction, and the work holder (30) is provided in the swinging body (71). Because of this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a trajectory for swiveling like in a robot arm type of transfer device, not to extend a lift beam up to a position close to a slide like in the feeder type of transfer device, so that it is not necessary to widen a clearance between uprights (12) and a tandem press (1) can be size-reduced as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Baba, Kazuhiko Shiroza, Takashi Moriyasu, Shuuji Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 6817829
    Abstract: A work loading method and a work loading apparatus with excellent productivity are provided. For this purpose, a work loading method includes the steps of: positioning the work with two centering devices (3a, 3b) every other press shot; and making pairs of two robots (4a, 4d) each, which are located diagonally from each other, out of four of the robots (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) in total, the two robots of each pair holding the works, which are on two of the centering devices, and performing a loading operation into the pallets, each pair alternately holding the works and performing the loading operation each time two of the centering devices position the works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kameda, Kengo Shimizu, Toshiyuki Yoshida, Takashi Moriyasu, Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 6742457
    Abstract: A transfer press having a plurality of slides, and comprising slide drives being drive sources provided every slide, and a control device for controlling the slide drives to synchronously drive and/or singly drive the slides individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 6701769
    Abstract: Short lift beam is employed for each transfer area, the lift beam is driven by a compact servomotor for transferring the workpieces, and the carrier is driven by the linear motor being integral therewith. Therefore, consumption of electric power can be reduced significantly, thereby promoting energy saving. The control may be performed depending on the die employed in each workstation by controlling the motion of the lift beam or the carrier at each transfer area arbitrarily by the controller. Consequently, drive with interference between the workpieces and the dies eliminated can be realized irrespective of the size or other element of the dies, thereby increasing design freedom of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Publication number: 20030118436
    Abstract: A work loading method and a work loading apparatus with excellent productivity are provided. For this purpose, a work loading method includes the steps of: positioning the work with two centering devices (3a, 3b) every other press shot; and making pairs of two robots (4a, 4d) each, which are located diagonally from each other, out of four of the robots (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) in total, the two robots of each pair holding the works, which are on two of the centering devices, and performing a loading operation into the pallets, each pair alternately holding the works and performing the loading operation each time two of the centering devices position the works.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kameda, Kengo Shimizu, Toshiyuki Yoshida, Takashi Moriyasu, Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Publication number: 20020157556
    Abstract: A transfer press having a plurality of slides, and comprising slide drives being drive sources provided every slide, and a control device for controlling the slide drives to synchronously drive and/or singly drive the slides individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Publication number: 20020144533
    Abstract: Short lift beam is employed for each transfer area, the lift beam is driven by a compact servomotor for transferring the workpieces, and the carrier is driven by the linear motor being integral therewith. Therefore, consumption of electric power can be reduced significantly, thereby promoting energy saving. The control may be performed depending on the die employed in each workstation by controlling the motion of the lift beam or the carrier at each transfer area arbitrarily by the controller. Consequently, drive with interference between the workpieces and the dies eliminated can be realized irrespective of the size or other element of the dies, thereby increasing design freedom of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 6050124
    Abstract: A transfer feeder (2) that is operable in a mechanical synchronism with a press machine (1) to prevent an interference of a movable part in the press machine (1) and a movable part in the transfer feeder (2) is disclosed that comprises a feed drive means (10) having a feed lever (10a) adapted to be swung for moving a group of feed carriers (6) or a transfer bar that carries workpieces in a workpiece feed direction. The feed drive means (10) is further provided with a cam drive means (12) comprising a feed cam (12b) adapted to be rotated in a mechanical synchronism with an operation of the press machine (1) by power taken out of the press machine with a power takeout means (14). The feed cam (12b) and the feed lever (10a) are associated with a switching means (19) for coupling them together and decoupling them each other. A servo drive means (13) comprising a servo controllable feed motor (21) is also provided to swing the feed lever (10a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Shiroza