Patents by Inventor Masazumi Fukushima

Masazumi Fukushima 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: 10266341
    Abstract: A temporary storage system has a large capacity and loads and unloads articles promptly. The temporary storage system includes a grid-shaped travelling rail and buffers over processing equipment except for an area over a load port, and local vehicles travel along the rail. The carriage of the local vehicles is provided with at least a longitudinal travelling unit, at least a lateral travelling unit, and at least an advancement and retraction mechanism selectively advancing one of the longitudinal travelling unit and the lateral travelling unit to a position supported by the travelling rail, and travels along the travelling rail longitudinally and laterally, and the transfer unit of the local vehicles is provided with a hoist and an arm moving the hoist horizontally. The local vehicles stop at a position corresponding to the load port, advances the arm towards the load port, and transfers an article between the load port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10043698
    Abstract: In a transport system, a local track is disposed so as to be below an overhead travelling vehicle track in parallel or substantially in parallel therewith, and furthermore above a loading port of a processing device from upstream of the loading port to downstream of the loading port. A local vehicle including a hoist travels along the local track. Below the local track, a first buffer is disposed upstream of the loading port of the processing device, and a second buffer is disposed downstream of the loading port of the processing device, and the overhead travelling vehicle and the local vehicle can both perform delivery and receipt of the article with the first buffer and the second buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Ota, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Publication number: 20170233187
    Abstract: A temporary storage system has a large capacity and loads and unloads articles promptly. The temporary storage system includes a grid-shaped travelling rail and buffers over processing equipment except for an area over a load port, and local vehicles travel along the rail. The carriage of the local vehicles is provided with at least a longitudinal travelling unit, at least a lateral travelling unit, and at least an advancement and retraction mechanism selectively advancing one of the longitudinal travelling unit and the lateral travelling unit to a position supported by the travelling rail, and travels along the travelling rail longitudinally and laterally, and the transfer unit of the local vehicles is provided with a hoist and an arm moving the hoist horizontally. The local vehicles stop at a position corresponding to the load port, advances the arm towards the load port, and transfers an article between the load port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Masazumi FUKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9415934
    Abstract: In a transport system, overhead travelling vehicles each including a hoist travel along an overhead travelling vehicle travelling route. A local vehicle travelling route is disposed under the overhead travelling vehicle travelling route and over load ports at a position higher than the load ports. Local vehicles each including hoist travel along the local vehicle travelling route. Buffers are disposed along the local vehicle travelling route. The local vehicle travelling route includes a plurality of local vehicle travelling routes that are provided in parallel, and the local vehicles are configured to diverge and merge from one local vehicle travelling route to another local vehicle travelling route. The local vehicles transport articles between a load port and a buffer under control of a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ikeda, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Patent number: 9296560
    Abstract: A storage unit includes carousels each including a plurality of levels and including a plurality of spaces for storing containers on each level, the carousels rotating around a vertical shaft; a loading port for loading and unloading the containers; transport units for transporting the containers between the loading port and the storage spaces; and pipes for feeding clean gas such that feeding is turned on and off for each storage space, the pipes being configured to be connected to an intake port provided for each container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20160071754
    Abstract: In a transport system, a local track is disposed so as to be below an overhead travelling vehicle track in parallel or substantially in parallel therewith, and furthermore above a loading port of a processing device from upstream of the loading port to downstream of the loading port. A local vehicle including a hoist travels along the local track. Below the local track, a first buffer is disposed upstream of the loading port of the processing device, and a second buffer is disposed downstream of the loading port of the processing device, and the overhead travelling vehicle and the local vehicle can both perform delivery and receipt of the article with the first buffer and the second buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Tatsuji OTA, Masazumi FUKUSHIMA, Yasuhisa ITO
  • Patent number: 9263311
    Abstract: In a transport system, a local track is disposed so as to be below an overhead travelling vehicle track in parallel or substantially in parallel therewith, and furthermore above a loading port of a processing device from upstream of the loading port to downstream of the loading port. A local vehicle including a hoist travels along the local track. Below the local track, a first buffer is disposed upstream of the loading port of the processing device, and a second buffer is disposed downstream of the loading port of the processing device, and the overhead travelling vehicle and the local vehicle can both perform delivery and receipt of the article with the first buffer and the second buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Ota, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Publication number: 20150332948
    Abstract: In a transport system, overhead travelling vehicles each including a hoist travel along an overhead travelling vehicle travelling route. A local vehicle travelling route is disposed under the overhead travelling vehicle travelling route and over load ports at a position higher than the load ports. Local vehicles each including hoist travel along the local vehicle travelling route. Buffers are disposed along the local vehicle travelling route. The local vehicle travelling route includes a plurality of local vehicle travelling routes that are provided in parallel, and the local vehicles are configured to diverge and merge from one local vehicle travelling route to another local vehicle travelling route. The local vehicles transport articles between a load port and a buffer under control of a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro IKEDA, Masazumi FUKUSHIMA, Yasuhisa ITO
  • Patent number: 9187260
    Abstract: A system for transporting an article between a plurality of processing devices includes a track extending above load ports of the processing devices, and an overhead travelling vehicle that travels along the track and has a hoist. A local track disposed lower than the track extends at least to a position under the track, and is oriented perpendicular to the track when viewed from above. A local carriage travels along the local track and has a hoist for vertically moving the article. A buffer disposed below the local track delivers and receives the article to and from the local carriage, and extends at least to a position under the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Ota, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Publication number: 20140124331
    Abstract: A storage unit includes carousels each including a plurality of levels and including a plurality of spaces for storing containers on each level, the carousels rotating around a vertical shaft; a loading port for loading and unloading the containers; transport units for transporting the containers between the loading port and the storage spaces; and pipes for feeding clean gas such that feeding is turned on and off for each storage space, the pipes being configured to be connected to an intake port provided for each container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20130199892
    Abstract: A system for transporting an article between a plurality of processing devices includes a track extending above load ports of the processing devices, and an overhead travelling vehicle that travels along the track and has a hoist. A local track disposed lower than the track at least to a position under the track, and is oriented perpendicular to the track when viewed from above. A local carriage travels along the local track and has a hoist for vertically moving the article. A buffer disposed below the local track delivers and receives the article to and from the local carriage, and extends at least to a position under the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Tatsuji Ota, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Publication number: 20120114453
    Abstract: In a transport system, a local track is disposed so as to be below an overhead travelling vehicle track in parallel or substantially in parallel therewith, and furthermore above a loading port of a processing device from upstream of the loading port to downstream of the loading port. A local vehicle including a hoist travels along the local track. Below the local track, a first buffer is disposed upstream of the loading port of the processing device, and a second buffer is disposed downstream of the loading port of the processing device, and the overhead travelling vehicle and the local vehicle can both perform delivery and receipt of the article with the first buffer and the second buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Ota, Masazumi Fukushima, Yasuhisa Ito
  • Patent number: 7506749
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying system that performs efficient conveyance by using trays each accommodating one workpiece, as a basic conveyor, and fully utilizing this advantage of the trays to allow its conveyance form to be changed as required. The conveying system includes a single-pod conveyor 10 for conveying pods 5 one by one, a pod stacker 50 for stacking a plurality of pods 5, a stacked pod conveyor 60 for conveying the stacked pods 5, and a pod destacker 50 for destacking the stacked pods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukazawa, Masazumi Fukushima, Makoto Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070289844
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying system that performs efficient conveyance by using trays each accommodating one workpiece, as basic conveying means, and fully utilizing this advantage of the trays to allow its conveyance form to be changed as required. The conveying system includes a single-pod conveying means 10 for conveying pods 5 one by one, a pod stacking means 50 for stacking a plurality of pods 5, a stacked pod conveying means 60 for conveying the stacked pods 5, and a pod destacking means 50 for destacking the stacked pods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukazawa, Masazumi Fukushima, Makoto Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070292256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveying system that enables the automation of handling of each tray, the handling of multiproduct small lots, and the improvement of conveying efficiency, while maintaining cleanliness. The conveying system has a tray loading and unloading means 20 for loading and unloading a plurality of stacked trays 1 into and from a pod 5 and a pod conveying means 10 for conveying the pod 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukazawa, Masazumi Fukushima, Makoto Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6591961
    Abstract: With a rail which is used by both a linear conveyor vehicle and a track guided vehicle, the traveling loops 2,3, the short-cuts 4˜7 and the access routes 8˜11 are provided. The traveling loops 20˜25 are arranged in a rail for a track guided vehicle, and are connected to the traveling loops 2,3 at the diverging/converging point 30. A linear conveyor vehicle system and a track guided vehicle system are integrated to convey articles efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20020048503
    Abstract: An auxiliary cart 20 is provided to back up a stacker crane in a process, and normally stands by in a passage 12. In operation, a manual cart 22 is loaded on the auxiliary cart 20, and the auxiliary cart 20 is controlled from the manual cart 22 to load and carry articles within the process. Therefore, if the stacker crane in the process fails, it can be backed up by loading the manual cart on the auxiliary cart to move them into the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20020033319
    Abstract: With a rail which is used by both a linear conveyor vehicle and a track guided vehicle, the traveling loops 2,3, the short-cuts 4˜7 and the access routes 8˜11 are provided. The traveling loops 20˜25 are arranged in a rail for a track guided vehicle, and are connected to the traveling loops 2,3 at the diverging/converging point 30. A linear conveyor vehicle system and a track guided vehicle system are integrated to convey articles efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6332744
    Abstract: A mast 18 of an automatic warehouse 10 is extended to a position under a floor 2 in a clean room in such a manner as to penetrate the floor 2, and a turn table 16 is installed under the floor. In addition, two types of stations, that is, a floor station 26 and an underfloor station 30 are provided, and shelves 14 are provided only in a floor space. The floor station 26 is connected to an unmanned carrier 34, while the underfloor station 30 is connected to a tracked cart 36. This automatic warehouse is easy to install and allows an underfloor space to be used to transfer articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Murata Kakai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masazumi Fukushima, Masatomi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6251155
    Abstract: To supply clean air throughout entire racks even if the height of the racks in an automatic warehouse is increased. A blower motor 18 is provided at the bottom of racks 10 and 11 to suck air in a loading space 12 and supply it to a clean air path 20. In addition, air flows from a ceiling clean fan unit 8 to the racks 10 and 11 via an air intake port 24, and the air flowing from the racks 10 and 11 to the loading space 12 is sucked by means of a blower motor 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masazumi Fukushima