Patents by Inventor Koichi Homma

Koichi Homma 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: 20230222936
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to select a teaching material related to a lesson from an answer to a questionnaire of the lesson in which the answer is written, and create a report associated with the selected teaching material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Satoru KUWA, Yasushi SANO, Koichi HOMMA
  • Publication number: 20230206776
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire a recognition result being a result of recognizing an answer sheet in which an answer to a question has been scored, by a recognition process; and present teaching material information being information regarding a teaching material, from teaching materials stored in advance in accordance with the acquired recognition result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yasushi SANO, Satoru KUWA, Koichi HOMMA
  • Patent number: 10710153
    Abstract: Provided is a method for filling a stem-side hollow area of an engine valve with metallic sodium. The method includes injecting melted metallic sodium into a cylinder having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the hollow area of the engine valve, forming a solidified metallic sodium rod having a substantially uniform structure in the cylinder, inserting the metallic sodium into the hollow area of the engine valve through a nozzle having a small diameter, and sealing the engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD., SUKEGAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Uchida, Ryo Onose, Koichi Homma, Kuniaki Miura, Masashige Hanawa
  • Patent number: 10316390
    Abstract: It is preferable that metallic sodium to be loaded to an engine valve used for an internal combustion engine such as automobile engine have high purity. However, conventionally, an organic solvent remaining in micropores on a surface of the metallic sodium have been hardly attracted attention. Provided is a method for purifying metallic sodium including steps of placing metallic sodium containing organic solvent in the micropores thereof in a melting tank which is sealed, and heating the melting tank under reduced pressure to vaporize and remove the organic solvent coating the metallic sodium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD., SUKEGAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Uchida, Ryo Onose, Koichi Homma, Kuniaki Miura, Masashige Hanawa
  • Patent number: 10252307
    Abstract: Each time a highly-viscous substance is extruded, a variation in weight of each cut piece of the highly-viscous substance is minimized. Metallic sodium (5) loaded in an extruder main body (3) is extruded from a nozzle (7) of the extruder main body (3) with a pressing tool (4) and, when it is detected that the metallic sodium (5) is extruded to a predetermined position, the movement of the pressing tool (4) is stopped and the extruded metallic sodium (5) is cut. In this case, an impulse (P) after stop is brought closer to a constant value until a load no longer acts on the metallic sodium (5) in the extruder main body (3) after stopping the movement of the pressing tool (4) by adjusting the movement speed of the pressing tool (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Homma, Masaaki Niiro, Daiki Sato
  • Publication number: 20190030595
    Abstract: Provided is a method for filling a stem-side hollow area of an engine valve with metallic sodium. The method includes injecting melted metallic sodium into a cylinder having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the hollow area of the engine valve, forming a solidified metallic sodium rod having a substantially uniform structure in the cylinder, inserting the metallic sodium into the hollow area of the engine valve through a nozzle having a small diameter, and sealing the engine valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Shigeru UCHIDA, Ryo ONOSE, Koichi HOMMA, Kuniaki MIURA, Masashige HANAWA
  • Publication number: 20180264530
    Abstract: Each time a highly-viscous substance is extruded, a variation in weight of each cut piece of the highly-viscous substance is minimized. Metallic sodium (5) loaded in an extruder main body (3) is extruded from a nozzle (7) of the extruder main body (3) with a pressing tool (4) and, when it is detected that the metallic sodium (5) is extruded to a predetermined position, the movement of the pressing tool (4) is stopped and the extruded metallic sodium (5) is cut. In this case, an impulse (P) after stop is brought closer to a constant value until a load no longer acts on the metallic sodium (5) in the extruder main body (3) after stopping the movement of the pressing tool (4) by adjusting the movement speed of the pressing tool (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Koichi HOMMA, Masaaki NIIRO, Daiki SATO
  • Publication number: 20180142324
    Abstract: It is preferable that metallic sodium to be loaded to an engine valve used for an internal combustion engine such as automobile engine have high purity. However, conventionally, an organic solvent remaining in micropores on a surface of the metallic sodium have been hardly attracted attention. Provided is a method for purifying metallic sodium including steps of placing metallic sodium containing organic solvent in the micropores thereof in a melting tank which is sealed, and heating the melting tank under reduced pressure to vaporize and remove the organic solvent coating the metallic sodium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicants: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd., Sukegawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru UCHIDA, Ryo ONOSE, Koichi HOMMA, Kuniaki MIURA, Masashige HANAWA
  • Patent number: 9689506
    Abstract: A hollow poppet valve (10) is provided with an additional flange shape cavity (S1a), in addition to an ordinary valve head cavity (S1) formed in the valve head (14) of the valve (10) in communication with a valve stem cavity (S2) formed in a valve stem (12). A coolant (19) is loaded in the cavities to facilitate dissipation of heat out of the valve. This flange shape cavity (S1a) extends radially outwardly round a bottom portion of the valve head cavity (S1), extending close to a valve seat, thereby significantly facilitating heat transfer between the coolant (19) and the valve seat of the valve, yet, since the flange shape cavity (S1a) does not influences the thickness of other regions of the valve, it does not degrade durability of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Homma, Hiroki Onuma, Jin Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20150247428
    Abstract: In a variable phaser for an engine including a drive rotating member having a cylindrical section and driven by a crank shaft, a cam shaft coaxially supporting the drive rotating member in a coaxial and relatively rotating fashion, a relative phase angle changing mechanism, and a self-locking mechanism preventing the misalignment of the relative phase angle due to the cam torque by pressing the lock plate held on a holding section integral with the cam shaft to an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical section, plate-pressing surfaces disposed at positions almost equally separated along an outer circumferential direction of an outer circumference of the holding section, and a plurality of lock plates equally separated in correspondence to the plate-pressing surfaces are formed, and the respective plate-pressing surfaces are formed by first and second pressing surfaces for delivering the cam torques along advance and lag directions to the respective lock plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayasu NAGADOH, Takashi WATANABE, Koichi HOMMA
  • Publication number: 20150240675
    Abstract: A hollow poppet valve (10) is provided with an additional flange shape cavity (S1a), in addition to an ordinary valve head cavity (S1) formed in the valve head (14) of the valve (10) in communication with a valve stem cavity (S2) formed in a valve stem (12). A coolant (19) is loaded in the cavities to facilitate dissipation of heat out of the valve. This flange shape cavity (S1a) extends radially outwardly round a bottom portion of the valve head cavity (S1), extending close to a valve seat, thereby significantly facilitating heat transfer between the coolant (19) and the valve seat of the valve, yet, since the flange shape cavity (S1a) does not influences the thickness of other regions of the valve, it does not degrade durability of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Homma, Hiroki Onuma, Jin Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9032925
    Abstract: A phase varying apparatus capable of smoothly varying the phase angle of a camshaft relative to a drive rotor by comprising: a drive rotor supported by a camshaft and driven by a crankshaft; a first control rotor integral with the camshaft; a first torquing mechanism for providing the first drive rotor with a torque in one direction, and a reverse rotation mechanism for proving the first control rotor with a torque in the opposite direction, wherein the reverse rotation mechanism comprises a first radius-decreasing guide groove formed in the control rotor, a crank member adapted to rotate about a position offset from the rotational axis of the drive rotor, and a first pin mechanism mounted on the crank member and movable in the radius-decreasing guide groove, and a second operative mechanism for rotating the first control rotor in the opposite rotational direction relative to the drive rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Masaaki Niiro, Koichi Homma
  • Patent number: 8960524
    Abstract: A burring apparatus for a friction welding machine comprises a clamp unit provided at the front end of a horizontal main spindle, for holding work piece W1 coaxial with the main spindle, a clamp unit provided at the front end of a slide movable to and away from the main spindle in the direction of the axis of the main spindle and a doughnut-shaped cutter for shearing off a burr. Work piece W2 is moved forward together with the slide until work piece W2 comes into contact with work piece W1 so that the mated ends of work pieces W1 and W2 are friction welded together to form a joint work piece W. The burr formed on the jointed work piece W is sheared off by the cutter. The jointed work piece W is then liberated from the main spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Okuno, Ryo Onose, Koji Sakane, Koichi Homma
  • Publication number: 20140196677
    Abstract: A phase varying apparatus capable of smoothly varying the phase angle of a camshaft relative to a drive rotor by comprising: a drive rotor supported by a camshaft and driven by a crankshaft; a first control rotor integral with the camshaft; a first torquing mechanism for providing the first drive rotor with a torque in one direction, and a reverse rotation mechanism for proving the first control rotor with a torque in the opposite direction, wherein the reverse rotation mechanism comprises a first radius-decreasing guide groove formed in the control rotor, a crank member adapted to rotate about a position offset from the rotational axis of the drive rotor, and a first pin mechanism mounted on the crank member and movable in the radius-decreasing guide groove, and a second operative mechanism for rotating the first control rotor in the opposite rotational direction relative to the drive rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kameda, Masaaki Niiro, Koichi Homma
  • Patent number: 8726867
    Abstract: The inventive phase varying apparatus (50) has a drive rotor (51) driven by the crankshaft of the engine, a phase angle varying mechanism (54) for varying the phase angle of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, and a self-locking mechanism (56) for preventing a gap in phase angle between the drive rotor and the camshaft due to an externally input disturbing torque. The self-locking mechanism has a cylinder section (69) mounted on the drive rotor, a circular eccentric cam (64) integrated with the camshaft and having inside thereof a cam holding groove (68a), and a lock plate (68) rotatably supporting the periphery of the circular eccentric cam and having on the outer periphery thereof at least four radial abutment protrusions (74-77) that are adapted to abut against the inner periphery (69a) of the cylinder section (69) to perform self-locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Niiro, Michihiro Kameda, Koichi Homma, Masayasu Nagado
  • Publication number: 20130221070
    Abstract: A burring apparatus for a friction welding machine comprises a clamp unit provided at the front end of a horizontal main spindle, for holding work piece W1 coaxial with the main spindle, a clamp unit provided at the front end of a slide movable to and away from the main spindle in the direction of the axis of the main spindle and a doughnut-shaped cutter for shearing off a burr. Work piece W2 is moved forward together with the slide until work piece W2 comes into contact with work piece W1 so that the mated ends of work pieces W1 and W2 are friction welded together to form a joint work piece W. The burr formed on the jointed work piece W is sheared off by the cutter. The jointed work piece W is then liberated from the main spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takehiro Okuno, Ryo Onose, Koji Sakane, Koichi Homma
  • Publication number: 20130192552
    Abstract: The inventive phase varying apparatus (50) has a drive rotor (51) driven by the crankshaft of the engine, a phase angle varying mechanism (54) for varying the phase angle of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, and a self-locking mechanism (56) for preventing a gap in phase angle between the drive rotor and the camshaft due to an externally input disturbing torque. The self-locking mechanism has a cylinder section (69) mounted on the drive rotor, a circular eccentric cam (64) integrated with the camshaft and having inside thereof a cam holding groove (68a), and a lock plate (68) rotatably supporting the periphery of the circular eccentric cam and having on the outer periphery thereof at least four radial abutment protrusions (74-77) that are adapted to abut against the inner periphery (69a) of the cylinder section (69) to perform self-locking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: NITTAN VALVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Niiro, Michihiro Kameda, Koichi Homma, Masayasu Nagado
  • Patent number: 8387577
    Abstract: A phase changing device for automobile engine, the device comprising curved first guide grooves formed in the control rotor, each groove skewed with respect to a circumference of a circle centered at the rotational axis; oblique guide grooves each groove formed in the middle rotor and extending at an angle with respect to a radius crossing the groove; second guide grooves formed in the drive rotor and skewed with respect to the circumference of a circle centered at the rotational axis, block sections each extending along, and movable in, the respective first guide; first slide members each protruding from the respective block section for engagement with, and for movement in, the respective skewed guide groove; and phase varying members each having a second slide member that extends through an escape groove formed in the middle rotor and engages the respective second guide groove to move in the second guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nittan Valve Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Shiino, Masaaki Niiro, Koichi Homma, Michihiro Kameda, Masayasu Nagado
  • Patent number: 7992531
    Abstract: Heat generation is not caused by friction in a phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine. A phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine varies the opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The phase varying apparatus includes a rotary drum (44A) screwed to an intermediate member (30); an electromagnetic clutch (42) including a plurality of magnets (80) that are fixedly arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum and that are magnetized alternately in opposite directions and a coil wound around an iron core (60); and ferromagnetic-material-made magnetic flux induction members (82, 84) having a plurality of claws (82B, 84B) close to magnetic poles of a magnet, having a slight gap between the iron core and the magnetic flux induction member, and forming a magnetic path (85) made up of the iron core and the magnets. The magnetic flux induction member is fixed to an outer cylinder part (10) or to an inner cylinder part (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Nittan Value Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Homma, Minoru Shiino, Naoya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7920287
    Abstract: A layout apparatus lays out a document by referencing personal information registered on a per user basis. Even if no particular print setting is input for a print job by a user, excellent prints customized for each user are thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Adachi, Koichi Homma, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Joji Oki, Naohiro Yoshikawa, Hideyuki Fujiwara, Akira Negishi, Shuji Someya