Patents by Inventor Kouichi Kobayashi

Kouichi Kobayashi 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: 10324447
    Abstract: A foil transfer device, a foil transfer method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute first, second and third processes. In the first process, an acute angle portion included in a contour of a predetermined shape is specified. In the second process, an approximation curve along a contour of the acute angle portion specified in the first process and is located inside the predetermined shape is obtained. In the third process, movement route data for the acute angle portion is created along the approximation curve obtained in the second process. The movement route data is usable for, for example, control of moving a heater of the foil transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10293548
    Abstract: A cross-sectional image generating apparatus includes a mask placer to place a mask on a first cross-sectional image such that a target pixel of the first cross-sectional image corresponds in position to a center pixel of the mask, a calculator to calculate a final value of a random variable for each of the pixels of the first cross-sectional image to be regarded as the target pixel corresponding in position to the center pixel, a colored pixel setter to set a printed pixel to be a colored pixel in accordance with the final value of the random variable calculated, a non-colored pixel setter to set the printed pixel or non-printed pixel to be a non-colored pixel in accordance with the final value of the random variable calculated, and a cross-sectional image generator to add color information to the colored pixel, and generates a second cross-sectional image representing the colored and non-colored pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10232554
    Abstract: An arrangement determining apparatus includes a center-of-gravity calculating processor that calculates a center of gravity of a three-dimensional model, a placement surface determining processor that determines a placement surface to attach and arranging supports thereon, a reference point setting processor that draws a perpendicular line from the center of gravity toward the placement surface and sets a reference point, a region dividing processor that divides the placement surface into a first region and a second region excluding the first region, and an arranging processor that attaches and arranges the supports on the placement surface so that the contact area per unit area between the first region and the supports in the first region is larger than the contact area per unit area between the second region and the supports in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Kobayashi, Tetsuhiro Kunifuji
  • Patent number: 10175680
    Abstract: An arrangement determining apparatus includes a storing processor that stores data of a three-dimensional model of the target object, a reference processor that shifts and rotates the three-dimensional model, a center-of-gravity calculating processor that calculates a center of gravity of the three-dimensional model, a principal axis setting processor that calculates a farthest point that is most distant from the center of gravity of the three-dimensional model, and sets a principal axis connecting the center of gravity of the three-dimensional model and the farthest point, a tilting processor that tilts the three-dimensional model so that the principal axis is parallel or substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, and an arranging processor that attaches and arranges the supports on a top surface or a bottom surface of the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10175679
    Abstract: A support arrangement determining apparatus includes a reference processor that shifts and rotates a target object model, a candidate generating processor that generates inclination angles that are candidates for the orientation of the target object to be formed, a support calculating processor that calculates a number of supports to be attached and arranged on the target object, and an inclination angle determining processor that determines, among a plurality of inclination angles generated by the candidate generating processor, an inclination angle that enables the supports to support the load of the target object and that reduces or minimizes the number of the supports calculated by the support calculating processor, and with the inclination angle the target object is inclined from the predetermined reference orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10059060
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a movable member with a holder secured thereto, a sensor detecting whether a position of the movable member is equal to or higher than a first position or is lower than the first position, a storage device storing an origin position lower than the first position by a first distance, and a determination device determining whether deviation from the origin position has occurred. The determination device includes a first moving unit moving the movable member to the origin position, a second moving unit moving the movable member toward a second position, which is higher than the origin position by a sum of the first distance and a second distance, and a first determination unit determining that deviation from the origin position has occurred unless the sensor detects that the position of the movable member is equal to or higher than the first position before the movable member reaches the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Asahina, Daisuke Akimoto, Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10007253
    Abstract: When first cross-sectional image data representing a target model corresponding to a shape of a three-dimensional printing object, and second cross-sectional image data representing both of the target model and a support model corresponding to a shape of a member assisting the creation of the three-dimensional printing object, are recognized to match each other by at least a predetermined ratio, the second cross-sectional image data is stored in a storage as third cross-sectional image data. In contrast, when the first cross-sectional image data and the second cross-sectional image data are recognized not to match each other by at least the predetermined ratio, synthesis data of the first cross-sectional image data and the second cross-sectional image data is stored in the storage medium as the third cross-sectional image data. The three-dimensional printing object is created based on the third cross-sectional image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hotta, Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9975211
    Abstract: A machine tool for machining a workpiece is provided with a cutting tool holder for holding a cutting tool and a rotation mechanism for holding the workpiece. One or both of the cutting tool holder and the rotation mechanism are movable on multiple axes so that the cutting tool is movable relative to the workpiece in multiple axial directions. A control device is provided for controlling the movement of one or both of the cutting tool holder and the rotation mechanism to synchronously vibrate the workpiece and the cutting tool relative to each other at a low frequency in multiple axial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Hariki, Kouichi Kobayashi, Nobuyoshi Imasaki
  • Publication number: 20180104901
    Abstract: A cross-sectional image generating apparatus includes a mask placer to place a mask on a first cross-sectional image such that a target pixel of the first cross-sectional image corresponds in position to a center pixel of the mask, a calculator to calculate a final value of a random variable for each of the pixels of the first cross-sectional image to be regarded as the target pixel corresponding in position to the center pixel, a colored pixel setter to set a printed pixel to be a colored pixel in accordance with the final value of the random variable calculated, a non-colored pixel setter to set the printed pixel or non-printed pixel to be a non-colored pixel in accordance with the final value of the random variable calculated, and a cross-sectional image generator to add color information to the colored pixel, and generates a second cross-sectional image representing the colored and non-colored pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9931828
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device includes an optical device and a controller that controls the optical device. The controller includes a dividing section that divides an area of a vat that is irradiated with light of a projector into a plurality of blocks, a counting section that counts a number of times of irradiation with light of the projector, a first determination section that determines whether or not the number of times counted by the counting section has reached a predetermined threshold value, a light output section that changes when it is determined by the first determination section that the number of times has reached the predetermined threshold value from a first energy to a second energy lower than the first energy an energy of light to be output from the projector to the photo-curable resin of the block for which determination has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9833827
    Abstract: A stamping device includes a stamping data generator configured to create stamping data to form a stamp image on a surface of a processing target, a positioning data generator configured to create positioning data to position the processing target, and a controller configured or programmed to control an operation of the processing tool. The controller includes a first controller configured or programmed to control the processing tool such that stamping is performed, based on the positioning data at a first stamping energy, on the processing target including a protective sheet attached thereto in a predetermined area including a stamping area where the stamp image is to be formed, and a second controller configured or programmed to control the processing tool such that stamping is performed, based on the stamping data at a second stamping energy equal to or different from the first stamping energy, on the processing tool in a state of having the protective sheet peeled off therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Kobayashi, Tsutomu Kuno, Yoshihiro Yazawa
  • Patent number: 9833952
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing apparatus that forms a three-dimensional object using cross-sectional shapes of the object includes a controller that is configured or programmed to include a dividing unit that divides a cross-sectional shape into a plurality of blocks, a shape determining unit that determines whether one of the blocks has a predetermined shape and defines the block having the predetermined shape as a characteristic block, a count determining unit that determines whether the proportion of the number of the characteristic blocks to the total number of the blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined proportion, and a light application unit that sets the energy of light from a light source to a first energy or to a second energy being lower than the first energy depending on the proportion, when applying the light to a photocurable resin in a region corresponding to the characteristic blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9833985
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system calculates a resin amount required to print a three-dimensional object by curing a liquid photo-curable resin and sequentially stacking layers of the cured resin each having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The system includes a first storage section configured to store information of a three-dimensional object, and information of an auxiliary member that supports the three-dimensional object, a first calculation section configured to calculate a resin amount necessary to print the three-dimensional object and a resin amount necessary to print the auxiliary member based on the information of the three-dimensional object and the auxiliary member stored in the first storage section, an output section configured to output a first resin amount that is the sum of the calculated resin amounts necessary to print the three-dimensional object and the auxiliary member, and a three-dimensional printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20170139395
    Abstract: A foil transfer device, a foil transfer method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute first, second and third processes. In the first process, an acute angle portion included in a contour of a predetermined shape is specified. In the second process, an approximation curve along a contour of the acute angle portion specified in the first process and is located inside the predetermined shape is obtained. In the third process, movement route data for the acute angle portion is created along the approximation curve obtained in the second process. The movement route data is usable for, for example, control of moving a heater of the foil transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9611913
    Abstract: A dust cover assembly including: a dust cover made of resin and having a bellows tube portion; and an upper insulator made of rubber attached to a top end of the dust cover. An engaging tube portion is integrally formed with an upper part of the bellows tube portion of the dust cover. At least one engaging groove opens onto an outer peripheral face of the engaging tube portion and extends in a circumferential direction. At least one locking protrusion is formed on an inner peripheral face of the upper insulator having an annular shape and protrudes toward an inner peripheral side, while extending in the circumferential direction. The engaging tube portion of the dust cover is inserted into the upper insulator, while the locking protrusion is inserted into the engaging groove and is locked therein in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nagai, Hideo Yanagino, Kouichi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20160370793
    Abstract: A support arrangement determining apparatus includes a reference processor that shifts and rotates a target object model, a candidate generating processor that generates inclination angles that are candidates for the orientation of the target object to be formed, a support calculating processor that calculates a number of supports to be attached and arranged on the target object, and an inclination angle determining processor that determines, among a plurality of inclination angles generated by the candidate generating processor, an inclination angle that enables the supports to support the load of the target object and that reduces or minimizes the number of the supports calculated by the support calculating processor, and with the inclination angle the target object is inclined from the predetermined reference orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160368222
    Abstract: An arrangement determining apparatus includes a storing processor that stores data of a three-dimensional model of the target object, a reference processor that shifts and rotates the three-dimensional model, a center-of-gravity calculating processor that calculates a center of gravity of the three-dimensional model, a principal axis setting processor that calculates a farthest point that is most distant from the center of gravity of the three-dimensional model, and sets a principal axis connecting the center of gravity of the three-dimensional model and the farthest point, a tilting processor that tilts the three-dimensional model so that the principal axis is parallel or substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, and an arranging processor that attaches and arranges the supports on a top surface or a bottom surface of the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160368223
    Abstract: An arrangement determining apparatus includes a center-of-gravity calculating processor that calculates a center of gravity of a three-dimensional model, a placement surface determining processor that determines a placement surface to attach and arranging supports thereon, a reference point setting processor that draws a perpendicular line from the center of gravity toward the placement surface and sets a reference point, a region dividing processor that divides the placement surface into a first region and a second region excluding the first region, and an arranging processor that attaches and arranges the supports on the placement surface so that the contact area per unit area between the first region and the supports in the first region is larger than the contact area per unit area between the second region and the supports in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kouichi KOBAYASHI, Tetsuhiro KUNIFUJI
  • Publication number: 20160347006
    Abstract: An image data generator includes a first coloring processor that colors each of portions of a first surface area and each of portions of a second surface area with a first color and a second color, respectively, a second coloring processor that colors some of portions of a first boundary area with the first color and color the other portions with the second color, or colors one or more of the portions of the first boundary area with a mixed color that is a mixture of the first and second colors, and a third coloring processor that colors some of portions of a second boundary area with the second color and color the other portions with the first color, or colors one or more of the portions of the second boundary area with the mixed color that is a mixture of the first and second colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160121547
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device includes an optical device and a controller that controls the optical device. The controller includes a dividing section that divides an area of a vat that is irradiated with light of a projector into a plurality of blocks, a counting section that counts a number of times of irradiation with light of the projector, a first determination section that determines whether or not the number of times counted by the counting section has reached a predetermined threshold value, a light output section that changes when it is determined by the first determination section that the number of times has reached the predetermined threshold value from a first energy to a second energy lower than the first energy an energy of light to be output from the projector to the photo-curable resin of the block for which determination has been made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Kouichi KOBAYASHI