Patents by Inventor Masahiro Murai

Masahiro Murai 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: 20230286175
    Abstract: In a seal affixing system, adsorption pores are arranged plurally along a first direction and a second direction on an adsorption face, and the plurality of adsorption pores are sectioned into a first suction region, a second suction region, and a third suction region containing a plurality of adsorption pores from a downstream side to an upstream side along a movement direction, and a controller controls a suction power generator to individually suck the first suction region, the second suction region, and the third suction region. According to the seal affixing system, a turbulent spot will not be generated in the affixed seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoguang NING, Yuki TSUCHIHASHI, Masahiro MURAI
  • Publication number: 20230286151
    Abstract: A reception section 102 receives a classification of a shape of a target object for a case in which a robot is to perform an action along the target object. An instruction section 104 instructs a user with a number of training points identified for each classification of the shape as training points for training positions of a specific location of the robot to perform the action. An acquisition section 106 acquires positional information of the specific location of the robot as trained by manipulation by the user according to the instruction. A estimation section 108 estimates a shape of the target object based on the acquired positional information. A generation section 110 generates a path for the robot to perform the action along the target object based on the estimated shape of the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromi Sasaki, Yuki Tsuchihashi, Masahiro Murai
  • Publication number: 20230286145
    Abstract: A technique automates robotic assembly of two parts with a fastener structure including an engaging portion and a receiving portion. A robot system includes a robot that grips a workpiece, a force sensor located on the robot to measure a force and a moment acting on the workpiece, and a controller that controls the robot. The controller monitors, while moving the workpiece in a direction along a first axis and inserting the workpiece into a part, a change in a force F in the direction along the first axis and a change in a moment M about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis measured by the force sensor to determine a state of assembly of the workpiece with the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Zhiqiang LIU, Yuki TSUCHIHASHI, Masahiro MURAI
  • Publication number: 20230271282
    Abstract: A screw tightening system includes an actuator including a driver bit that rotationally drives a screw and a motor coupled with driver bit, and a controller that controls actuator. Controller includes an acquirer that acquires torque values of a torque generated in a motor, a calculator that calculates a standard deviation of the torque values in a temporary tightening period, and a determiner that determines that there is an abnormality when a ratio of the standard deviation to a reference standard deviation exceeds a first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Shu BIWAKI, Zhiqiang LIU, Masahiro MURAI, Yuki TSUCHIHASHI
  • Publication number: 20230234245
    Abstract: A multi-hole absorption tool includes an absorption surface including a plurality of absorption holes to which a seal is absorbed. Each of the plurality of absorption holes is classified so as to belong to at least one of a first region and a second region, and absorption holes belonging to the first region and absorption holes belonging to the second region are connected to different suction devices. The multi-hole absorption tool having this configuration can peel off the seal from a mount with no wrinkle in the seal, prevent positional displacement of the seal with respect to an object to which the seal is affixed, and affix the seal to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoguang NING, Yuki TSUCHIHASHI, Masahiro MURAI, Takayuki KANZAWA
  • Publication number: 20230234742
    Abstract: Generation of a wrinkle is prevented when a sticker is affixed to an object. A sticker affixing system includes an articulated robot, a controller configured to control the articulated robot, and a suction tool attached to a distal end of the articulated robot. The suction tool includes a suction portion configured to hold a sticker and a pressing portion configured to affix the sticker to an object to which the sticker is affixed. The controller causes the articulated robot to execute an operation of inclining a suction surface of the suction portion with respect to a surface of the object and an operation of moving the suction tool along the surface of the object. The pressing portion presses the sticker against the surface of the object while the suction tool moves along the surface of object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki TSUCHIHASHI, Takayuki KANZAWA, Masahiro MURAI, Hiromi SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20230234745
    Abstract: Generation of a wrinkle is prevented when a sticker is affixed to an object. A sticker affixing system includes an articulated robot, a controller configured to control the articulated robot, a suction tool attached to a distal end of the articulated robot, and a force sensor configured to detect force applied to the suction tool. The controller causes the articulated robot to execute: an operation of moving the suction tool holding a sticker along a surface of an object to which the sticker is affixed; and an operation of adjusting an inclination of the suction tool with respect to a traveling direction (roll axis) of the suction tool and the traveling direction of the suction tool based on a signal from the force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki TSUCHIHASHI, Hiromi SASAKI, Masahiro MURAI
  • Publication number: 20230158678
    Abstract: This robot system includes a robot on which a driver bit for rotating a screw is mountable, and a robot controller that controls the robot. The robot controller gives a command to the robot to insert a teaching jig into a screw hole which is to be threaded with the screw in a state where the teaching jig is mounted instead of the driver bit, and determines a direction in which the driver bit is inserted by adjusting a direction in which the teaching jig is inserted so as not to cause a load due to interference between the teaching jig and the screw hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro MURAI
  • Patent number: 11400591
    Abstract: The disclosure is provided to shorten a total allowed cycle time of insertion or a press-fitting operation. A control device of a robot performing insertion or a press-fitting operation includes: a measuring part, measuring an elapsed time from a time point of starting a correcting operation in a case where the insertion or the press-fitting operation does not end normally; a calculating part, calculating a total remaining time of the correcting operation by subtracting a time from a start to an end of the correcting operation from a preset total allowed time of the correcting operation; a comparing part, comparing the remaining time with a required operation time which is an elapsed time from the start to the end of the correcting operation; and a control part, interrupting the correcting operation before the allowed time elapses in a case where the remaining time is less than the required operation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Iwai, Masahiro Murai, Kazuhiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 11390842
    Abstract: A cell culture apparatus for conducting cell culture in which a culture medium is supplied together with cells to a container formed of a flexible material, wherein, a base having a flat mounting surface that holds the container is provided, partition pieces that can be protruded from the mounting surface for a prescribed height are embedded in the base, and when the partition pieces are accommodated into the base, upper end surfaces of the partition pieces are flushed with the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Hata, Masahiro Murai
  • Patent number: 11171431
    Abstract: A component insertion device including a robot and a control portion is provided. The control portion is configured to control the operation of the robot. The robot includes a gripper, a dummy component and a force sensor. The gripper is configured for gripping a workpiece component. The dummy component is mounted protruding outward on a location in the gripper and away from the gripped workpiece component. The dummy component has a corresponding part with the same shape as that of a specific part of the workpiece component and exhibits rigidity. The force sensor is configured for detecting, through the gripper, a contact reaction force received by the dummy component from the surrounding of a slot or hole of a receiving portion by which the specific part of the workpiece comment is to be inserted via using the device. Component insertion method and program of using the device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Iwai, Masahiro Murai
  • Patent number: 10967516
    Abstract: A pair of claws and included in a gripper of a robot have specific shapes and for bending or flexing a specific part of a workpiece in a thickness direction when approaching each other to clamp the workpiece. The pair of claws and are made to approach each other and clamp the workpiece in a state where the specific part is protruded to the outside while making the workpiece and also the specific part undergo an elastic deformation so as to bend or flex in the thickness direction within a range of a transverse-direction dimension of the slot. The specific part of the workpiece is inserted into the slot along an insertion direction perpendicular to a tip end surface by a compliance control based on an output of a force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Iwai, Masahiro Murai
  • Publication number: 20200318057
    Abstract: A cell culture apparatus for conducting cell culture in which a culture medium is supplied together with cells to a container formed of a flexible material, wherein, a base having a flat mounting surface that holds the container is provided, partition pieces that can be protruded from the mounting surface for a prescribed height are embedded in the base, and when the partition pieces are accommodated into the base, upper end surfaces of the partition pieces are flushed with the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko HATA, Masahiro Murai
  • Patent number: 10731122
    Abstract: A bottom surface of a container (1) formed of a flexible material is partially raised to be partitioned it into plural compartments (10), and cells are cultured in each compartment (10). In due time, the compartments (10) are removed to expand a culture area in the container. As a result, the cell density at the time of culture can be maintained at an appropriate level, and an operation of transferring cells from one culture container to another culture container at the time of proliferating cells in a large amount can be eliminated, whereby damage on cells and risk of contamination can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Hata, Masahiro Murai
  • Patent number: 10606236
    Abstract: A control parameter is adjusted without the need to operate a driver of a control target. A control device (10) includes a model identification unit (12), a parameter determination unit (132), a data evaluation unit (131) and an operation data calculation unit (133). The model identification unit (12) identifies a physical model of an operation of the control target. The operation data calculation unit (133) calculates operation data by using the physical model and the control parameter. The data evaluation unit (131) calculates an evaluation value by using normative data of the operation of the control target and the operation data. The parameter determination unit (132) determines the control parameter by using the evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Murai, Yukio Iname
  • Patent number: 10474117
    Abstract: A control apparatus and the like may include a time allocation setting unit that sets a time allocation for steps in the total driving time, and an operation value calculation unit that calculates minimum operation values for the times set by the time allocation setting unit, and the time allocation setting unit sets the time allocation of the steps in the total driving time such that the difference between the minimum operation values of the steps falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koga, Masahiro Murai
  • Publication number: 20190283250
    Abstract: The disclosure is provided to shorten a total allowed cycle time of insertion or a press-fitting operation. A control device of a robot performing insertion or a press-fitting operation includes: a measuring part, measuring an elapsed time from a time point of starting a correcting operation in a case where the insertion or the press-fitting operation does not end normally; a calculating part, calculating a total remaining time of the correcting operation by subtracting a time from a start to an end of the correcting operation from a preset total allowed time of the correcting operation; a comparing part, comparing the remaining time with a required operation time which is an elapsed time from the start to the end of the correcting operation; and a control part, interrupting the correcting operation before the allowed time elapses in a case where the remaining time is less than the required operation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke IWAI, Masahiro MURAI, Kazuhiro TAKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20190275677
    Abstract: A pair of claws and included in a gripper of a robot have specific shapes and for bending or flexing a specific part of a workpiece in a thickness direction when approaching each other to clamp the workpiece. The pair of claws and are made to approach each other and clamp the workpiece in a state where the specific part is protruded to the outside while making the workpiece and also the specific part undergo an elastic deformation so as to bend or flex in the thickness direction within a range of a transverse-direction dimension of the slot. The specific part of the workpiece is inserted into the slot along an insertion direction perpendicular to a tip end surface by a compliance control based on an output of a force sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke IWAI, Masahiro MURAI
  • Publication number: 20190280405
    Abstract: A workpiece component is gripped by a gripper of a robot in a state that a specific part protrudes outward, and a dummy component, which has a corresponding part with the same shape as the shape of the specific part of the workpiece component and exhibits rigidity, is mounted on a location in the gripper and away from the gripped workpiece component and protrudes outward. The corresponding part of the dummy component is inserted into the slot or the hole through compliance control which is based on the output of a force sensor. The position and the posture of the slot or the hole is recognized. The specific part of the workpiece component is inserted into the slot or the hole through position control based on the position and the posture of the slot or the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke IWAI, Masahiro MURAI
  • Patent number: 10303132
    Abstract: A control parameter which causes a servo motor to perform an operation with higher accuracy depending on a purpose and a situation is determined. A control device (10) includes a data evaluation unit (131), a parameter determination unit (132), and an operation data acquisition unit (133). The operation data acquisition unit (133) acquires operation data including a speed or a torque of a servo motor (900). The data evaluation unit (131) calculates an evaluation value by using normative data corresponding to a target of the operation data and the operation data. The parameter determination unit (132) determines a control parameter applied to a servo driver (90) which controls operations of the servo motor (900) by using the evaluation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Murai, Yukio Iname