Patents by Inventor Kazuki TERADA

Kazuki TERADA 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: 20220040878
    Abstract: There is provided a cutting apparatus that cuts a workpiece by a cutting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a chuck table that holds a board in which a groove is formed through cutting of the board by the cutting blade, a cutting unit having a spindle and a mount flange that is fixed to a tip part of the spindle and on which the cutting blade is mounted, and a replacement apparatus that replaces the cutting blade mounted on the mount flange with the cutting blade stored in a blade storing part and replaces the board placed on the chuck table with the board stored in a board storing part. The replacement apparatus includes a holding part that holds the cutting blade and the board under suction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Patent number: 11224986
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a mount flange having a mount land that has a surface for holding a cutting blade as a consumable part, a changing apparatus for changing cutting blades, and a moving unit for moving the changing apparatus between a changing position for changing cutting blades and a retracted position. The changing apparatus includes a rotational shaft, a first holder for holding a used cutting blade, the first holder having a first holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft, and a second holder for holding a replacement cutting blade, the second holder being disposed in a position angularly spaced a predetermined angle from the first holder around the rotational shaft, the second holder having a second holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Publication number: 20210354257
    Abstract: There is provided a blade replacing apparatus for replacing a cutting blade. The blade replacing apparatus includes a blade storage unit including a movable storage section configured to store the cutting blade, a transporting unit including a holding unit configured to hold the cutting blade and a moving mechanism configured to move the holding unit, a camera configured to photograph the holding unit, and a control unit including an operation control section configured to control operation of the blade storage unit and the transporting unit and a position registration section in which positions of the storage section and the holding unit. The storage section includes a first mark portion photographable by the camera, and the holding unit includes a second mark portion photographable by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20210316477
    Abstract: A blade holding jig for holding a washer-type cutting blade via an annular retainer flange includes an annular flange holding portion configured to hold a first annular surface of the retainer flange under suction, and an annular non-contact suction portion arranged on an outer peripheral portion of the flange holding portion and configured to produce a negative pressure by ejection of a fluid toward the outer peripheral portion of the retainer flange held by the flange holding portion and to draw up the cutting blade toward the retainer flange. The cutting blade drawn up toward the retainer flange by the non-contact suction portion is held on the retainer flange by a suction force acting from the flange holding portion via a plurality of through holes disposed extending from a second annular surface to the first annular surface of the retainer flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Zhibo SU, Kazuki TERADA, Kenichi FUJIE
  • Publication number: 20210316468
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus cuts a workpiece by a cutting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a mount flange on which the cutting blade is mounted and a replacement apparatus that replaces the cutting blade mounted on the mount flange with the cutting blade for replacement. The replacement apparatus includes a rotating part, a first holding part that holds the cutting blade mounted on the mount flange on a front surface side, a second holding part that holds the cutting blade for replacement on a front surface side, and a nut rotation part that has a nut holding part that holds a nut for fixing the cutting blade to the mount flange and rotates the nut held by the nut holding part. The rotating part is coupled to the first holding part, the second holding part, and the nut rotation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuki TERADA, Yoshitaka YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11125410
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a first light source; and a columnar first light guide. The first light guide includes an incidence surface on which light of the first light source is incident, a first part that extends from the incidence surface toward one side in a direction of vehicle width, a second part that extends from an end of the first part toward one side in the vertical direction, and a third part that extends from an end of the second part toward the other side in the direction of vehicle width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Publication number: 20210107180
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a holding table for holding a workpiece, a cutting unit including a spindle and a mount, a blade changer unit for mounting a cutting blade on or dismounting a cutting blade from the mount, and a control unit. The blade changer unit includes a blade chuck for holding the cutting blade and a moving unit. The cutting unit includes a vibration detecting sensor. The control unit includes a calculator for calculating the central axis of the mount from a position where the vibration detecting sensor detects vibrations caused upon contact between the mount and the blade chuck, and a mounting/dismounting controller for aligning the central axis of the blade chuck with the central axis of the mount and mounting the cutting blade on and dismounting cutting blade from the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Patent number: 10974356
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a blade changing unit demounting an old cutting blade from a blade mount and mounting a new cutting blade to the blade mount. The blade changing unit includes a blade holder for holding a support base of each cutting blade and a moving portion for moving the blade holder in the axial direction of a boss portion of the blade mount in the condition where each cutting blade is held by the blade holder, thereby mounting the new cutting blade to the boss portion or demounting the old cutting blade from the boss portion. The cutting apparatus further includes a control unit controlling the blade changing unit. The control unit measures a signal indicating a force applied to the moving portion in mounting or demounting, and determines the condition of the blade changing unit and blade mount according to the signal measured by the measuring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Publication number: 20200398452
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a mount flange having a mount land that has a surface for holding a cutting blade as a consumable part, a changing apparatus for changing cutting blades, and a moving unit for moving the changing apparatus between a changing position for changing cutting blades and a retracted position. The changing apparatus includes a rotational shaft, a first holder for holding a used cutting blade, the first holder having a first holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft, and a second holder for holding a replacement cutting blade, the second holder being disposed in a position angularly spaced a predetermined angle from the first holder around the rotational shaft, the second holder having a second holding surface facing in an outward direction from the rotational shaft perpendicularly to the rotational shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20200361109
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a blade changing apparatus for changing a cutting blade mounted on a spindle of a first cutting unit and changing a cutting blade mounted on a spindle of a second cutting unit. The blade changing apparatus includes a nut mounting and demounting unit for mounting and demounting a nut in each of the first and second cutting units and a blade mounting and demounting unit for mounting and demounting the cutting blade in each of the first and second cutting units. The nut mounting and demounting unit includes a rotating shaft, a first nut rotating portion fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, a second nut rotating portion fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft, a motor, and a power transmitting unit connected to the motor and the rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Zhibo SU, Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20200238559
    Abstract: A blade changer unit includes a blade chuck for holding a cutting blade, a moving unit for moving the blade chuck, and a control unit for controlling moving unit. The blade chuck has a plurality of electrically conductive grippers for holding the cutting blade. The controller detects conduction between the grippers and a boss. The control unit includes a calculator for calculating the position of a central axis of the mount from coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the moving unit is controlled to bring the grippers into contact with the mount at at least three points, and a mounting/dismounting controller for mounting and dismounting the cutting blade while the central axis of the blade chuck is aligned with the central axis of the mount calculated by the calculator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20200030928
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a blade changing unit demounting an old cutting blade from a blade mount and mounting a new cutting blade to the blade mount. The blade changing unit includes a blade holder for holding a support base of each cutting blade and a moving portion for moving the blade holder in the axial direction of a boss portion of the blade mount in the condition where each cutting blade is held by the blade holder, thereby mounting the new cutting blade to the boss portion or demounting the old cutting blade from the boss portion. The cutting apparatus further includes a control unit controlling the blade changing unit. The control unit measures a signal indicating a force applied to the moving portion in mounting or demounting, and determines the condition of the blade changing unit and blade mount according to the signal measured by the measuring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20190358757
    Abstract: A transfer jig for use in transferring a new cutting blade as a replacement component to the processing unit, in a cutting apparatus including a chuck table holding a workpiece, a processing unit having a spindle and a cutting blade detachably mounted on the spindle, a cutting blade changing unit changing the cutting blade, and a transfer mechanism supplying the workpiece to the processing unit. The transfer jig has a plurality of receiving portions each adapted to receive the new cutting blade and the cutting blade changed by the cutting blade changing unit. The transfer jig is adapted to be transferred by the transfer mechanism transferring the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20190283195
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a blade changing apparatus. The blade changing apparatus includes a blade mounting and removal portion, which in turn includes: a holding portion that removably holds a circular base of a cutting blade; a moving support portion that supports the holding portion and moves the holding portion to a removal and mounting position at which an insertion hole in the blade faces a boss of a blade mount; and a coupling mechanism that couples the holding portion with the moving support portion such that the holding portion is freely tiltable with respect to the moving support portion. The coupling mechanism includes a plurality of elastic member pairs, each pair, while tensioning the holding portion in opposite directions, fixing the holding portion to the moving support portion. Forces acting from the elastic member pairs balance each other to thereby support the holding portion tiltably and aerially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Publication number: 20190195461
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a first light source; and a columnar first light guide. The first light guide includes an incidence surface on which light of the first light source is incident, a first part that extends from the incidence surface toward one side in a direction of vehicle width, a second part that extends from an end of the first part toward one side in the vertical direction, and a third part that extends from an end of the second part toward the other side in the direction of vehicle width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki TERADA
  • Patent number: 10040204
    Abstract: Apparatus transfers a plate-shaped workpiece to/from a holding surface of a chuck table. The apparatus includes a holding unit and a moving mechanism. The holding unit includes at least two holding members for holding the outer edge of the workpiece, a support plate for supporting the holding members so as to allow movement of the holding members toward or away from the outer edge of the workpiece, and a moving unit for moving the holding members. Each holding member includes a rod portion vertically movably extending downward through the support plate, an engaging portion formed on the outer circumference of the rod portion at the lower end thereof for engaging the outer edge of the workpiece, and a nozzle portion for discharging a fluid from the lower surface of the rod portion toward the holding surface to thereby float the workpiece from the holding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Patent number: 9934957
    Abstract: A wafer is bonded to a support plate by cutting off, with a cutting blade, an annular portion of the bonded wafer which extends from the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer to a position that is spaced radially inwardly toward the center of the bonded wafer by a predetermined distance. Bonding is done by a method that includes a captured image forming step of irradiating the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with light emitted from an irradiating unit and passing through a through hole, and imaging the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with an imaging camera disposed in facing relation to the irradiating unit with the bonded wafer interposed therebetween, thereby to capture an image, and an outer peripheral edge position detecting step of detecting an outer peripheral edge position of the bonded wafer on the basis of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohiko Kozai, Kazuki Terada, Meiyu Piao
  • Publication number: 20180056525
    Abstract: Apparatus transfers a plate-shaped workpiece to/from a holding surface of a chuck table. The apparatus includes a holding unit and a moving mechanism. The holding unit includes at least two holding members for holding the outer edge of the workpiece, a support plate for supporting the holding members so as to allow movement of the holding members toward or away from the outer edge of the workpiece, and a moving unit for moving the holding members. Each holding member includes a rod portion vertically movably extending downward through the support plate, an engaging portion formed on the outer circumference of the rod portion at the lower end thereof for engaging the outer edge of the workpiece, and a nozzle portion for discharging a fluid from the lower surface of the rod portion toward the holding surface to thereby float the workpiece from the holding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuki Terada
  • Publication number: 20170294300
    Abstract: A wafer is bonded to a support plate by cutting off, with a cutting blade, an annular portion of the bonded wafer which extends from the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer to a position that is spaced radially inwardly toward the center of the bonded wafer by a predetermined distance. Bonding is done by a method that includes a captured image forming step of irradiating the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with light emitted from an irradiating unit and passing through a through hole, and imaging the outer peripheral edge of the bonded wafer with an imaging camera disposed in facing relation to the irradiating unit with the bonded wafer interposed therebetween, thereby to capture an image, and an outer peripheral edge position detecting step of detecting an outer peripheral edge position of the bonded wafer on the basis of the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hirohiko Kozai, Kazuki Terada, Meiyu Piao
  • Publication number: 20150293640
    Abstract: An operation device includes a detection part configured to detect an operation applied to an operation surface so as to calculate a detection point on the operation surface, a target position setting part configured to set a target position on the operation surface based on information retrieved from an operated object, a distance of overshoot setting part configured to set a distance of overshoot based on the target position set, the distance of overshoot being predicted a distance to be overshot by the detection point from the target position while the detection point moves, a notification region setting part configured to set a notification region configured to perform notification based on the target position and the distance of overshoot, and a notification part configured to notify that the detection point has reached the notification region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Shuichi TAKEUCHI, Ken SASAKI, Kazuki TERADA, Shohei MISHIMA