Patents by Inventor Masaki Imamura

Masaki Imamura 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: 20240347973
    Abstract: A different-item-number detection structure for detecting whether a combination of a connector and a push-in jig is regular, wherein the connector includes a plurality of busbars and a housing including a plurality of busbar accommodation rooms, the housing includes a housing main body formed and an insulation wall to partition an inside of the housing main body to insulate the busbars from each other, the push-in jig includes a jig main body, a plurality of push-in portions provided to protrude from the jig main body for pushing in the busbars, and a detection portion provided in the jig main body and configured to detect whether or not the housing is regular, when the push-in jig is pushed toward the housing, in a case in which the detection portion is not in/in contact with the insulation wall, it is detected that the housing and the push-in jig form a regular/irregular combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki HOMMA, Masaki IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20240339778
    Abstract: A connector includes a busbar including a base portion in a strip plate shape and a plurality of tab terminals extending from a predetermined position in a longitudinal direction of the base portion; and a housing including a busbar accommodation room in which the busbar is accommodated, wherein the busbar accommodation room includes a pair of plate portions for sandwiching and holding the base portion, the pair of plate portions are provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively, the first/second protrusion protruding toward each other and being contactable with the busbar, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are provided at shifted positions in an extending direction of the tab terminal, and the tab terminal is accommodated in the busbar accommodation room in a tilted state of being apart from the one side as advancing in the direction in which the tab terminal extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki ITO, Masaki IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 11841050
    Abstract: A return cover provided with a ball circulation path is attached to a slider, a lubricant retainer made up from a porous elastic body and in sliding contact with a guide rail of a body is supported by the return cover, and the lubricant retainer is provided therein with a lubricant storage space filled with lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 11686345
    Abstract: An actuator is equipped with a body and a slider. Body side rail grooves are formed in side wall portions that constitute the body. On the other hand, slider side rail grooves are formed in the slider. Body side guide rails and slider side guide rails are provided in the body side rail grooves and the slider side rail grooves, respectively. Circular arc grooves serving as ball grooves are formed by body side ball receiving portions of the body side guide rails, and slider side ball receiving portions of the slider side guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Naoki Kouta, Masaki Miyahara, Masaki Imamura, Tsuyoshi Mita
  • Patent number: 11588269
    Abstract: A connector includes a first connector housing including a first wall. The first connector housing is attachable to a second connector housing such that the first wall opposes a second wall of the second connector housing. The first connector housing includes: a fitting chamber defined at least by the first wall, the fitting chamber allowing a counterpart connector housing to be fitted therein; and an engaging arm provided on the first wall, the engaging arm being configured to engage an engaged arm provided on the second wall of the second connector housing when the first connector housing is completely attached to the second connector housing. The engaging arm serves as an attachment state detection mechanism configured to detect an incomplete attachment state in which the first connector housing is incompletely attached to the second connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Imamura, Kazuhide Ikeya, Hiroshi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20220316526
    Abstract: A return cover provided with a ball circulation path is attached to a slider, a lubricant retainer made up from a porous elastic body and in sliding contact with a guide rail of a body is supported by the return cover, and the lubricant retainer is provided therein with a lubricant storage space filled with lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 11437757
    Abstract: A connector unit includes a first housing and a second housing which are mateable, and a lever element to be pivotably supported by the first housing, wherein the lever element includes a plate-shaped lever main body and a sliding element, wherein the lever main body is rotatable between an initial position and a completely rotated position for both housings, wherein the second housing includes a locking portion, wherein the lever main body includes a locked portion which is locked by the locking portion in the completely rotated position, wherein the sliding element is provided so as to be slidable between a protruding position and a pushed-in position, and wherein the sliding element is configured so that in the protruding position, the lever main body is rotated and the locking portion locks the locked portion in order to slide the sliding element from the protruding position to the pushed-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Imamura, Akihiro Tsuruta, Koutaro Tobino, Kazuhide Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20210355993
    Abstract: An actuator is equipped with a body and a slider. Body side rail grooves are formed in side wall portions that constitute the body. On the other hand, slider side rail grooves are formed in the slider. Body side guide rails and slider side guide rails are provided in the body side rail grooves and the slider side rail grooves, respectively. Circular arc grooves serving as ball grooves are formed by body side ball receiving portions of the body side guide rails, and slider side ball receiving portions of the slider side guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio SATO, Naoki KOUTA, Masaki MIYAHARA, Masaki IMAMURA, Tsuyoshi MITA
  • Publication number: 20210336371
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing and a plate-shaped lever which is pivotably supported by the housing, wherein the housing includes a pair of wall sections opposed in a rotation axis direction of the lever, wherein one of the pair of wall sections includes a rotation shaft section protruding towards another of the pair of wall sections, wherein the rotation shaft section is provided in a flexible arm which is cut out from the one wall section, and wherein it is configured so that in a natural state of the flexible arm, the lever is pivotably supported by the rotation shaft section, wherein when the lever which is not mounted is inserted between the pair of wall sections and comes into contact with the rotation shaft section, the flexible arm is bent in a direction away from the another wall section with interposition of the one wall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki IMAMURA, Hiroshi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20210336372
    Abstract: A connector includes a first connector housing including a first wall. The first connector housing is attachable to a second connector housing such that the first wall opposes a second wall of the second connector housing. The first connector housing includes: a fitting chamber defined at least by the first wall, the fitting chamber allowing a counterpart connector housing to be fitted therein; and an engaging arm provided on the first wall, the engaging arm being configured to engage an engaged arm provided on the second wall of the second connector housing when the first connector housing is completely attached to the second connector housing. The engaging arm serves as an attachment state detection mechanism configured to detect an incomplete attachment state in which the first connector housing is incompletely attached to the second connector housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki IMAMURA, Kazuhide IKEYA, Hiroshi MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20210320457
    Abstract: A connector unit includes a first housing and a second housing which are mateable, and a lever element to be pivotably supported by the first housing, wherein the lever element includes a plate-shaped lever main body and a sliding element, wherein the lever main body is rotatable between an initial position and a completely rotated position for both housings, wherein the second housing includes a locking portion, wherein the lever main body includes a locked portion which is locked by the locking portion in the completely rotated position, wherein the sliding element is provided so as to be slidable between a protruding position and a pushed-in position, and wherein the sliding element is configured so that in the protruding position, the lever main body is rotated and the locking portion locks the locked portion in order to slide the sliding element from the protruding position to the pushed-in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki IMAMURA, Akihiro Tsuruta, Koutaro Tobino, Kazuhide Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20210284547
    Abstract: Provided is a method for recovering scandium as scandium oxide that contains high-quality scandium and in which coarse particles having good handling properties are formed. This method for recovering scandium includes a step for carrying out an oxalate conversion process wherein oxalic acid is used in a solution containing scandium (scandium-containing solution) to generate a reaction in which the scandium is converted into an oxalate form, the method characterized in that the temperature of the reaction solution during the oxalate conversion process is 50° C. to 80° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Higaki, Masaki Imamura, Osamu Nakai, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10626481
    Abstract: There is provided a method capable of effectively reducing the amount of acid used in a leaching step and the amount of a neutralizer used in a final neutralization step while nickel yield in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore is not reduced. A method for pre-treating ore slurry according to the present invention is a method for pre-treating ore slurry to be provided to a leaching treatment in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore, the method including: a first separation step for separating ore slurry into a coarse particle fraction and a fine particle fraction; a second separation step for separating the coarse particle fraction separated in the first separation step into a heavy specific gravity fraction and a light specific gravity fraction; and a vibration sieving step for separating, by a vibration sieve, the light specific gravity fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Higuchi, Masaki Imamura
  • Publication number: 20190382870
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore for recovering nickel and cobalt using a high pressure acid leach process, the process achieving simplification and durability improvement of production facilities, achieving cost reduction and suppression of environmental risk by the compression of the capacity of a tailings dam for storing wastes, and being capable of recycling and effectively utilizing the wastes as a resource. The hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore for recovering nickel and cobalt using a high pressure acid leach process includes an ore processing step, a leaching step, a solid-liquid separation step, a neutralization step, a zinc removal step, a sulfurization step, and a final neutralization step, and further includes step (A), or further includes step (A) and, step (B-1) and/or step (B-2) after step (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Go Ohara, Yasumasa Kan, Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 10273558
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore effectively reducing the amount of sulfuric acid used in the leaching step and the amount of a neutralizer such as slaked lime used in the final neutralization step without reducing nickel yield. The present invention is a method for pre-treating ore slurry to be submitted for leaching treatment in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore, the method comprising: a separating step for separating the ore slurry into a coarse particle fraction, in which particles having a particle diameter of less than 45 ?m are 30 mass % of the solids or less, and a fine particle fraction, and feeding said fine particle fraction to the leaching process; and a vibration sieving step for separating the separated coarse particle fraction into oversize particles and undersize particles using vibration sieving and feeding the ore slurry of said undersize particles to the leaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Higuchi, Go Ohara, Osamu Nakai, Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 10125025
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing (high purity) hematite for ironmaking, in a process where a mineral acid and an oxidizing agent are added to an ore containing iron and a valuable metal and then the valuable metal is leached under high temperatures and high pressures, comprises the steps of: (1) a high pressure leach step; (2) a preliminary neutralization step; (3) a solid-liquid separation step 1; (4) a neutralization step 1; (5) a neutralization step 2; (6) a solid-liquid separation step 3; (7) seed crystal addition treatment; (8) a solid-liquid separation step 2; and (9) a firing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Ohara, Yasumasa Kan, Masaki Imamura
  • Publication number: 20180291478
    Abstract: There is provided a method capable of effectively reducing the amount of acid used in a leaching step and the amount of a neutralizer used in a final neutralization step while nickel yield in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore is not reduced. A method for pre-treating ore slurry according to the present invention is a method for pre-treating ore slurry to be provided to a leaching treatment in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore, the method including: a first separation step for separating ore slurry into a coarse particle fraction and a fine particle fraction; a second separation step for separating the coarse particle fraction separated in the first separation step into a heavy specific gravity fraction and a light specific gravity fraction; and a vibration sieving step for separating, by a vibration sieve, the light specific gravity fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Hirotaka Higuchi, Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 9981858
    Abstract: Proposed is a process for separating a leach residue from which a hematite-containing material that can be used as a raw material for ironmaking can be obtained, and provided is a production process of hematite for ironmaking from the leach residue. The process for producing hematite for ironmaking using, as a raw material, the leach residue in a slurry state obtained from a hydrometallurgical plant for nickel oxide ore utilizing a high pressure acid leach process comprises in sequence: a first step of separating the leach residue in a slurry state into an overflow and an underflow using a wet cyclone; a second step of separating the overflow into a strong magnetic component and a weak magnetic component using a strong-magnetic-field magnetic separator utilizing magnetic force; and a third step of sintering the separated strong magnetic component at a temperature of 1150 to 1350° C. to form a sintered body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go Ohara, Yasumasa Kan, Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 9914648
    Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining a hematite-containing material that can be used for ironmaking. The process includes separating a leach residue from a hydrometallurgical refining plant into an overflow and an underflow using a wet cyclone under a condition that the wet cyclone is adjusted to have a setting between 1 ?m or less and 2 ?m or less as a classification particle size for the overflow. The process then includes separating the overflow into a strong magnetic substance and a weak magnetic substance using a strong-magnetic-field magnetic separator under a condition that magnetic field intensity is 5 to 20 [kGauss]. The process then includes using a superheated steam drying system for adjusting a moisture content of the strong magnetic substance after the separation, to be 10 wt % to 17 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go Ohara, Yasumasa Kan, Masaki Imamura
  • Publication number: 20180037971
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore effectively reducing the amount of sulfuric acid used in the leaching step and the amount of a neutralizer such as slaked lime used in the final neutralization step without reducing nickel yield. The present invention is a method for pre-treating ore slurry to be submitted for leaching treatment in a hydrometallurgical process for nickel oxide ore, the method comprising: a separating step for separating the ore slurry into a coarse particle fraction, in which particles having a particle diameter of less than 45 ?m are 30 mass % of the solids or less, and a fine particle fraction, and feeding said fine particle fraction to the leaching process; and a vibration sieving step for separating the separated coarse particle fraction into oversize particles and undersize particles using vibration sieving and feeding the ore slurry of said undersize particles to the leaching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Hirotaka Higuchi, Go Ohara, Osamu Nakai, Masaki Imamura