Patents by Inventor Kenzou Nose

Kenzou Nose 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: 11691276
    Abstract: A link actuation apparatus that actuates a parallel link mechanism where a spherical drive mechanism is constructed includes a controller configured to calculate, based on spherical trigonometry, an attitude of a second link hub from angles ?A1 and ?A2 that represent the attitude of a first end link member with respect to a first link hub in two of at least three link mechanisms. The link actuation apparatus capable of performing forward transformation in real time is thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: KYUSHU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Hayashi, Hirofumi Fukumaru, Toshiki Takagi, Kenzou Nose, Hideki Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 11668375
    Abstract: A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end member and three or more link mechanisms. Three or more link mechanisms connect the proximal end member to a distal end member. In three or more link mechanisms, a first center axis of a first revolute pair unit and a second center axis of a second revolute pair unit intersect at a spherical link center point. Fifth center axes of respective fifth revolute pair units of three or more link mechanisms overlap each other and intersect with the spherical link center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: KYUSHU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Hayashi, Hirofumi Fukumaru, Taiga Okamoto, Kenzou Nose, Hideki Matsuzawa, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Patent number: 11420322
    Abstract: A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui
  • Patent number: 11407101
    Abstract: In a link actuating device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. A posture control drive source configured to arbitrarily change the posture of the distal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms. The link actuating device includes a storage unit configured to store therein an operating position of the posture control drive source when the distal end side link hub is in a defined posture. In each of the two or more link mechanisms, a positioning portion is provided to at least one of the proximal side end link member, the distal side end link member, and the intermediate link member. A positioning member configured to position the distal end side link hub in the defined posture is dismountably mounted between a plurality of the positioning portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Publication number: 20220234199
    Abstract: A link actuation apparatus that actuates a parallel link mechanism where a spherical drive mechanism is constructed includes a controller configured to calculate, based on spherical trigonometry, an attitude of a second link hub from angles ?A1 and ?A2 that represent the attitude of a first end link member with respect to a first link hub in two of at least three link mechanisms. The link actuation apparatus capable of performing forward transformation in real time is thus provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiro HAYASHI, Hirofumi FUKUMARU, Toshiki TAKAGI, Kenzou NOSE, Hideki MATSUZAWA
  • Publication number: 20220166288
    Abstract: A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end-side link hub, three link mechanisms, a rotating body, and a distal end-side link hub. The rotating body is connected to one link mechanism among the three link mechanisms. The rotating body is rotatably coupled to the proximal end-side link hub. In the link mechanism, a first center axis of a first revolute pair portion intersects with a second center axis of a second revolute pair portion at a spherical link center point. The rotation center axis of the rotating body intersects with the spherical link center point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Kenzou NOSE, Hideki MATSUZAWA
  • Patent number: 11298814
    Abstract: A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui, Seigo Sakata, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20210388887
    Abstract: A parallel link mechanism includes a proximal end member and three or more link mechanisms. Three or more link mechanisms connect the proximal end member to a distal end member. In three or more link mechanisms, a first center axis of a first revolute pair unit and a second center axis of a second revolute pair unit intersect at a spherical link center point. Fifth center axes of respective fifth revolute pair units of three or more link mechanisms overlap each other and intersect with the spherical link center point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiro HAYASHI, Hirofumi FUKUMARU, Taiga OKAMOTO, Kenzou NOSE, Hideki MATSUZAWA, Hiroshi ISOBE, Seigo SAKATA
  • Patent number: 11154994
    Abstract: A work device is configured to perform a work with use of an end effector and have six degrees of freedom. The work device including: a linear motion unit obtained by combining three linear motion actuators, to have three degrees of freedom; and a rotation unit obtained by combining a plurality of rotation mechanisms each having one or more degrees of rotational freedom, to have three degrees of freedom. A base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to a mount. A base portion of the rotation unit is fixed to an output portion of the linear motion unit. The end effector is mounted to an output portion of the rotation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11130225
    Abstract: A working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining three linear motion actuators; and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining a plurality of rotating mechanisms each having one or more rotational degrees of freedom. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to the mount. A base portion of the rotary unit is fixedly mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. End effectors are mounted on both the output portion of the linear motion unit and an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20210197362
    Abstract: A link actuation apparatus includes: a parallel link mechanism including a proximal-side link hub, a distal-side link hub, and three or more link mechanisms each coupling the distal-side link hub to the proximal-side link hub such that a posture of the distal-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-side link hub; posture control drive sources; and a control device. The control device includes an abnormality detector including: a measurement section configured to measure a predetermined state value which is affected by abnormality in revolute pair parts of a link actuation apparatus body constituted by the parallel link mechanism and the posture control drive sources; and a determination section configured to determine if any of the revolute pair parts has abnormality in on the basis of a measurement result obtained by the measurement section. For example, the measurement section measures rigidity, or driving torque or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: KENZOU NOSE, HIROSHI ISOBE
  • Patent number: 11000946
    Abstract: In the link operating device, a distal-end-side link hub is connected to a proximal-end-side link hub so as to be changeable in position relative thereto via at least three link mechanisms. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a distal-side end link member, and a center link member. Position-controlling actuators and speed reduction mechanisms are provided to two or more of the link mechanisms. The proximal-side end link member includes a bent portion and a pair of rotational connection bodies disposed at one end of the bent portion. The speed reduction mechanism is disposed between the pair of rotational connection bodies, and includes an output shaft fixed to one of the rotational connection bodies, and an input shaft rotatably supported by the other one of the rotational connection bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20210086350
    Abstract: In a link actuating device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. A posture control drive source configured to arbitrarily change the posture of the distal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms. The link actuating device includes a storage unit configured to store therein an operating position of the posture control drive source when the distal end side link hub is in a defined posture. In each of the two or more link mechanisms, a positioning portion is provided to at least one of the proximal side end link member, the distal side end link member, and the intermediate link member. A positioning member configured to position the distal end side link hub in the defined posture is dismountably mounted between a plurality of the positioning portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou NOSE, Hiroshi ISOBE
  • Patent number: 10780574
    Abstract: A distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms. Each link mechanism has a proximal side end link member, a distal side end link member, and an intermediate link member. The proximal side end link member has a bent portion and rotation shaft mounting portions. A rotation shaft is mounted to the rotation shaft mounting portion. A bevel gear, forming a part of a gear mechanism for transmitting rotary motion of a posture control actuator to the proximal side end link member, is mounted on the rotation shaft mounting portion and disposed in a space between two virtual planes obtained by extending a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge of one end of the bent portion in a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20200206897
    Abstract: A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui, Seigo Sakata, Kenzou Nose
  • Patent number: 10556308
    Abstract: A work apparatus includes a parallel link mechanism, a position control actuator, a linear motion mechanism, and a rotating mechanism. The parallel link mechanism includes three or more link mechanisms that couple a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that a position of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub. The position control actuator operates the parallel link mechanism. The linear motion mechanism moves a working body in an axial direction orthogonal to a central axis of the proximal end side link hub. The rotating mechanism is mounted on the distal end side link hub and rotates a work object about a rotation center axis parallel to a movement direction of the linear motion mechanism when the central axis and a central axis are on the same line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10513028
    Abstract: The composite work apparatus includes: two link actuation devices that support two working bodies such that postures of the working bodies can be individually changed; and three or more linear motion actuators that move the two link actuation devices and two or more work objects relative to each other. In each link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is connected to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture control actuator that arbitrarily changes the posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata, Naoki Marui, Kenzou Nose
  • Patent number: 10391641
    Abstract: A combination link actuation device has two link actuation devices combined with each other. Each link actuation device is provided so as to connect a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that an orientation of the distal end side link hub is changed relative to the proximal end side link hub through three link mechanisms aligned in a circumferential direction. An orientation controlling actuator is provided in two or more link mechanisms among the three link mechanisms to optionally change an orientation of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub. At least one circumferential separation angle among separation angles of the three link mechanisms is greater than 120°. The two link actuation devices are disposed such that portions, of the link mechanisms, where the separation angle is greater than 120° oppose each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Konagai, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata, Naoki Marui, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20190255699
    Abstract: A working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining three linear motion actuators; and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining a plurality of rotating mechanisms each having one or more rotational degrees of freedom. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to the mount. A base portion of the rotary unit is fixedly mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. End effectors are mounted on both the output portion of the linear motion unit and an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi ISOBE, Kenzou NOSE, Naoki MARUI, Hiroyuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20190255700
    Abstract: A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou NOSE, Hiroshi ISOBE, Naoki MARUI