Patents by Inventor Masaaki Uematsu

Masaaki Uematsu 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: 12090646
    Abstract: A robot including a wrist base, a wrist flange member including a flange surface for mounting an end effector, and an actuator driven to rotate the wrist flange member relative to the wrist base around an axis line orthogonal to the flange surface, the actuator includes a first member fixed to the wrist base and a second member fixed to the wrist flange member, a gap which is exposed in a direction opposite to the flange surface along the axis line is formed between a cylindrically shaped outer peripheral surface of the wrist base or the first member and a cylindrically shaped inner peripheral surface, which is arranged radially outside the outer peripheral surface, of the wrist flange member or the second member, and the robot includes an oil seal for sealing the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20230415361
    Abstract: A robot including a wrist base, a wrist flange member including a flange surface for mounting an end effector, and an actuator driven to rotate the wrist flange member relative to the wrist base around an axis line orthogonal to the flange surface, the actuator includes a first member fixed to the wrist base and a second member fixed to the wrist flange member, a gap which is exposed in a direction opposite to the flange surface along the axis line is formed between a cylindrically shaped outer peripheral surface of the wrist base or the first member and a cylindrically shaped inner peripheral surface, which is arranged radially outside the outer peripheral surface, of the wrist flange member or the second member, and the robot includes an oil seal for sealing the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki UEMATSU
  • Patent number: 11358289
    Abstract: A joint structure of a robot includes a first member, a second member which is rotatably supported around a horizontal rotation axis line with respect to the first member, and an actuator which rotates the second member with respect to the first member, a through-holes, each of which allows a lubrication space in which a lubricant for the actuator is enclosed to connect with an outer space is provided in at least one of the first member and the second member, and more than three of the through-holes are provided at an interval in a circumferential direction centering around the horizontal rotation axis line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norimitsu Uemura, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20210162611
    Abstract: A joint structure of a robot includes a first member, a second member which is rotatably supported around a horizontal rotation axis line with respect to the first member, and an actuator which rotates the second member with respect to the first member, a through-holes, each of which allows a lubrication space in which a lubricant for the actuator is enclosed to connect with an outer space is provided in at least one of the first member and the second member, and more than three of the through-holes are provided at an interval in a circumferential direction centering around the horizontal rotation axis line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Norimitsu UEMURA, Masaaki UEMATSU
  • Patent number: 10975953
    Abstract: A control unit has as agitation mode in which a command is executed for a first switching valve so that the oil supply/discharge direction is switched so as to supply oil to a first oil supply/discharge port located at a low position and discharge oil from a second oil supply/discharge port located at a high position, whereby oil in an oil bath is agitated via a circulation pump from a low position to a high position is the oil bath; and a filter mode in which, after the agitation mode is executed, a command is executed for the first switching valve so that the oil supply/discharge direction is switched so as to discharge oil from the first oil supply/discharge port located at a low position and supply oil to the second oil supply/discharge port located in a high position, whereby impurities in the oil sent to a filter mechanism are filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norimitsu Uemura, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Patent number: 10850344
    Abstract: A robot includes: a robot body including a plurality of joints, and a cleaning mechanism provided to the robot body and configured to clean a predetermined cleaning target site of the robot body to which a foreign material is likely to adhere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Akita, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Patent number: 10766135
    Abstract: A teach pendant for teaching a robot includes an operation unit disposed on a first surface of the teach pendant, to perform an input operation; a display unit disposed on the first surface; and a camera disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the teach pendant. An image captured by the camera is displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Norimitsu Uemura, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20190195333
    Abstract: A control unit has as agitation mode in which a command is executed for a first switching valve so that the oil supply/discharge direction is switched so as to supply oil to a first oil supply/discharge port located at a low position and discharge oil from a second oil supply/discharge port located at a high position, whereby oil in an oil bath is agitated via a circulation pump from a low position to a high position is the oil bath; and a filter mode in which, after the agitation mode is executed, a command is executed for the first switching valve so that the oil supply/discharge direction is switched so as to discharge oil from the first oil supply/discharge port located at a low position and supply oil to the second oil supply/discharge port located in a high position, whereby impurities in the oil sent to a filter mechanism are filtered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Norimitsu UEMURA, Masaaki UEMATSU
  • Publication number: 20190160655
    Abstract: A teach pendant for teaching a robot includes an operation unit disposed on a first surface of the teach pendant, to perform an input operation; a display unit disposed on the first surface; and a camera disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the teach pendant. An image captured by the camera is displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norimitsu Uemura, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20190143440
    Abstract: A robot includes: a robot body including a plurality of joints, and a cleaning mechanism provided to the robot body and configured to clean a predetermined cleaning target site of the robot body to which a foreign material is likely to adhere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke AKITA, Masaaki UEMATSU
  • Patent number: 8282333
    Abstract: A workpiece transfer robot system including a machine tool provided with a workpiece support section and a robot capable of transferring a workpiece relative to the workpiece support section of the machine tool. The machine tool includes a cover surrounding at least the workpiece support section. The cover includes a first side wall provided with a first opening usable for a workpiece transferring task of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Masaru Oda, Toru Shirahata, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama, Masaaki Uematsu, Kentarou Ootani
  • Publication number: 20100092273
    Abstract: A workpiece transfer robot system including a machine tool provided with a workpiece support section and a robot capable of transferring a workpiece relative to the workpiece support section of the machine tool. The machine tool includes a cover surrounding at least the workpiece support section. The cover includes a first side wall provided with a first opening usable for a workpiece transferring task of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Masaru ODA, Toru Shirahata, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama, Masaaki Uematsu, Kentarou Ootani
  • Patent number: 7299713
    Abstract: A device used to lay line elements such as electric and/or fluid lines between a stationary housing and a moving housing. The device includes a double pipe structure having an inner pipe member and an outer pipe member. The outer pipe member is attached to the moving housing and rotatably supported by the stationary housing. The inner and outer pipe members are arranged in a generally coaxial relationship and coupled to each other by a coupling member. The line elements, which extend between a holding portion on the stationary housing and a holding portion on the moving housing, are divided into first and second groups, and the first group of line elements is laid to extend through an inner hole of the inner pipe member while the second group of line elements is laid to extend through an annular gap formed between the inner and outer pipe members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Masaaki Uematsu, Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka
  • Patent number: 7104153
    Abstract: Pipes and/or wires extend in a bundle from a hollow portion of a second wrist element to a hollow portion of first wrist element of a robot. The first wrist element can rotate relatively to the second wrist element around an axis that passes through the two hollow portions. This bundle is divided into a plurality of split bundles in the hollow portion of the first wrist element. The split bundles are led out individually through a plurality of openings in the sidewall of the first wrist element and are connected to a working unit on a flange portion of the first wrist element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka, Masaaki Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20060147296
    Abstract: A screw or a tapping screw, comprising an ultra fine structure steel having ferrite grains of 3 ?m or smaller in average grain size and a nitrided layer on a surface part, wherein a strength is increased, a surface hardness is increased, and the surface hardness and an inside hardness are kept in balance, whereby a novel tapping screw and novel general screws can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Shiro Torizuka, Kotobu Nagal, Takafumi Komatsu, Naohisa Miyashita, Fumito Takagi, Masaaki Matsuzawa, Yoshimasa Miyasaka, Yoshiki Hatnato, Chiaki Fujimori, Masayoshi Osaka, Masaaki Uematsu, Hajime Hama
  • Patent number: 7069808
    Abstract: A line laying structure for a wrist of a robot capable of enhancing durability of lines of cables/pipes for flowing electricity, air, water, etc. to an end effector attached to the wrist, and reducing a restriction of angle of rotation of a wrist axis by rotation of the other wrist axes. First, second and third wrist elements of the wrist are rotatable around fist, second and third axes, respectively. The first wrist element is fixed to a distal end of a forearm of the robot, to be rotated on a mounting base with the forearm as a unit. The lines are clamped on the mounting base by a line retainer and laid inside the forearm and clamped at a distal end of the forearm inside and outside thereof by line retainers. The lines are then clamped by line retainers provided on the second wrist element and introduced to the third wrist element. Then, the lines are clamped by the line retainer provided on the third wrist element and drawn outside thereof to be connected with the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Masaaki Uematsu, Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka
  • Patent number: 7028578
    Abstract: A wrist driving mechanism capable of arranging a large amount of cables and pipes in a robot arm. A robot wrist mechanism having three degrees of freedom is driven by first, second and third drive shafts for transmitting driving forces of first, second and third motors M4, M5 and M6, respectively. The first drive shaft is a hollow shaft for transmitting a rotational driving force from the motor M4 to a first wrist element supported rotatably around the first axis B1. The second and third drive shafts are arranged eccentrically with the first axis B1 in an inner space of the first drive shaft. The second drive shaft transmits a rotational driving force from the motor M5 to a second wrist element supported rotatably around the second axis B2, and the third drive shaft transmits a rotational force from the motor M6 to a third wrist element supported rotatably around the third axis B3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Masaaki Uematsu, Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka
  • Publication number: 20040179900
    Abstract: A device according to the present invention is used to lay line elements such as electric and/or fluid lines between a stationary housing and a moving housing. The device includes a double pipe structure having an inner pipe member and an outer pipe member. The outer pipe member is attached to the moving housing and rotatably supported by the stationary housing. The inner and outer pipe members are arranged in a generally coaxial relationship and coupled to each other by a coupling member. The line elements, which extend between a holding portion on the stationary housing and a holding portion on the moving housing, are divided into first and second groups, and the first group of line elements is laid to extend through an inner hole of said inner pipe member while the second group of line elements is laid to extend through an annular gap formed between the inner and outer pipe members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Masaaki Uematsu, Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka
  • Patent number: 6696810
    Abstract: A member for piping and wiring to an end effector of a robot is discharged from a first wrist element into a void area in a position displaced from an axis c, being bent and loosened, and then guided to a hollow path. Any variance in a length of the piping/wiring member 30 due to rotations of second and third wrist elements is absorbed in this void area, so that twining round or scratching by a wrist can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uematsu, Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20030200831
    Abstract: Pipes and/or wires extend in a bundle from a hollow portion of a second wrist element to a hollow portion of first wrist element of a robot. The first wrist element can rotate relatively to the second wrist element around an axis that passes through the two hollow portions. This bundle is divided into a plurality of split bundles in the hollow portion of the first wrist element. The split bundles are led out individually through a plurality of openings in the sidewall of the first wrist element and are connected to a working unit on a flange portion of the first wrist element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: FANUC LTD.
    Inventors: Kuniyasu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Masahiro Morioka, Masaaki Uematsu