Patents by Inventor Mikio Wada
Mikio Wada 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).
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Publication number: 20220263105Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell stack manufacturing method that can achieve a uniform pitch between fuel cells, that is, unit cells, and can increase the sealing properties between the unit cells. The fuel cell stack manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell stack including the lamination of a plurality of unit cells. This method includes a conveying step and a stacking step. The conveying step conveys the unit cell with its opposite ends held in a state where a pair of separators forming the unit cell vertically faces each other. The stacking step stacks in the vertical direction the plurality of unit cells with the gasket interposed therebetween. The upper and lower sides of the unit cells in the stacking step are inverted from those of the unit cells in the conveying step.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Taiki KUWAHARA, Mikio WADA
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Patent number: 8434676Abstract: There is provided a banknote handling system including: a reception unit configured to receive a banknote that has been put therein; a recognition unit configured to recognize the banknote that has been received by the reception unit; a storing unit having at least one first cassette configured to store or escrow the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit, and at least one second cassette configured to store the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit; an operation unit configured to receive a deposit-confirmation instruction for the banknote that has been escrowed in the first cassette; and a control unit configured to cause the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit to be escrowed in the first cassette and to cause, when the deposit-confirmation instruction is received by the operation unit, the banknote that has been escrowed in the first cassette to be stored in the second cassette.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Glory Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Sekiguchi, Shinji Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Takagi, Mikio Wada, Shigeo Matsumoto, Hirofumi Masuki
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Patent number: 8371451Abstract: A banknote handling apparatus 10 comprises a casing 12, an inlet 20 configured for inserting banknotes into the casing 12 from the exterior thereof, a plurality of storages 40 provided in a lower portion of the casing 12, in a substantially horizontal direction and in parallel relative to one another, and respectively adapted for storing therein the banknotes, and an escrow storage 42 juxtaposed with the respective storages 40 in the casing and adapted for escrowing therein the banknotes inserted into the casing 12 from the exterior thereof through the inlet 20. A transport unit 30 adapted for transporting the banknotes between any two of the inlet 20, respective storages 40 and escrow storage 42 is provided above the respective storages 40 and escrow storage 42 in the casing 12. In addition, a plurality of diverters 36 are provided at diversion points 35 in the transport unit 30 toward each of the storages 40 and escrow storage 42, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Glory Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Wada, Yasushi Yokota, Junichi Sekiguchi, Kenichi Hattori, Masayuki Mukaida, Hirofumi Masuki
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Publication number: 20110235893Abstract: There is provided a banknote handling system including: a reception unit configured to receive a banknote that has been put therein; a recognition unit configured to recognize the banknote that has been received by the reception unit; a storing unit having at least one first cassette configured to store or escrow the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit, and at least one second cassette configured to store the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit; an operation unit configured to receive a deposit-confirmation instruction for the banknote that has been escrowed in the first cassette; and a control unit configured to cause the banknote that has been recognized by the recognition unit to be escrowed in the first cassette and to cause, when the deposit-confirmation instruction is received by the operation unit, the banknote that has been escrowed in the first cassette to be stored in the second cassette.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2009Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: Junichi Sekiguchi, Shinji Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro Takagi, Mikio Wada, Shigeo Matsumoto, Hirofumi Masuki
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Patent number: 7754358Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Haruhisa Niimi, Mikio Wada, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Yixin Zeng, Kouetsu Hibino, Tsutomu Ochi, Yasuyuki Asai, Katsuhiro Kajio, Yuichi Yagami
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Publication number: 20100108576Abstract: A banknote handling apparatus 10 comprises a casing 12, an inlet 20 configured for inserting banknotes into the casing 12 from the exterior thereof, a plurality of storages 40 provided in a lower portion of the casing 12, in a substantially horizontal direction and in parallel relative to one another, and respectively adapted for storing therein the banknotes, and an escrow storage 42 juxtaposed with the respective storages 40 in the casing and adapted for escrowing therein the banknotes inserted into the casing 12 from the exterior thereof through the inlet 20. A transport unit 30 adapted for transporting the banknotes between any two of the inlet 20, respective storages 40 and escrow storage 42 is provided above the respective storages 40 and escrow storage 42 in the casing 12. In addition, a plurality of diverters 36 are provided at diversion points 35 in the transport unit 30 toward each of the storages 40 and escrow storage 42, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Mikio Wada, Yasushi Yokota, Junichi Sekiguchi, Kenichi Hattori, Masayuki Mukaida, Hirofumi Masuki
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Publication number: 20100055530Abstract: Each of collectors 22 of an electrode structure 20, which partially constitutes a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, is formed from a metal lath MR having a large number of through-holes. A stopping portion 22a in which the through-holes are reduced in diameter is formed at a peripheral end portion of the collector 22. The peripheral end portion of the collector 22 is folded; subsequently, the folded peripheral end portion is pressed, thereby forming the stopping portion 22a. A resin seal portion 23 for sealing introduced fuel gas and oxidizer gas is formed integrally with the stopping portions 22a by insert molding which is performed such that an injected molten resin encloses the stopping portions 22a. The resin seal portion 23 formed integrally with the stopping portions 22a can reliably prevent inflow of the molten resin toward central portions of the collectors 22.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kousuke Kawajiri, Hideto Tanaka, Tomoyuki Takamura, Yoshinori Shinozaki, Kazutaka Iizuka, Mikio Wada, Chisato Kato, Nobuo Kanai
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Patent number: 7608355Abstract: A seal structure of a fuel cell includes an interrupted back-up disposed at least one of a connecting gas passage and a connecting coolant passage. The back-up located on one side of a separator and a portion of a seal line located on the other side of the separator are disposed such that the back-up and the portion of the seal line are overlapped with each other in a fuel cell stacking direction. The interrupted back-up may be formed in the seal or in the separator.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Mikio Wada, Iwao Myojin
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Patent number: 7498096Abstract: A seal arrangement for a fuel cell structure is provided which includes a seal portion in the form of a gasket between adjacent fuel cells in a stack of fuel cells. In the seal arrangement, a portion of the fuel cell structure that overlaps the gasket as viewed in a direction of lamination of the cells has a constant-thickness structure having a substantially constant thickness. The seal arrangement may further be arranged to seal fuel cell coolant passages and manifolds from fuel cell gas passages.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tadahiro Ichioka, Mikio Wada
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Publication number: 20070122679Abstract: A seal structure of a fuel cell includes an interrupted back-up disposed at at least one of a connecting gas passage and a connecting coolant passage. The back-up located on one side of a separator and a portion of a seal line located on the other side of the separator are disposed such that the back-up and the portion of the seal line are overlapped with each other in a fuel cell stacking direction. The interrupted back-up may be formed in the seal or in the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2004Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Tomokazu Hayashi, Mikio Wada, Iwao Myojin
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Publication number: 20050241233Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Kouetsu Hibino, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichi Yagami, Mikio Wada, Tsutomu Ochi, Katsuhiro Kajio, Toshiyuki Inagaki, Yasuyuki Asai, Yixin Zeng, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Haruhisa Niimi
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Patent number: 6939639Abstract: A fuel cell separator is pressed so that one side thereof defines a gas flow channel and that the other side thereof defines a coolant flow channel. A width dG and a cross-sectional area SG of the gas flow channel and a width dW and a cross-sectional area Sw of the coolant flow channel satisfy a relationship: dG?dW or a relationship: SG?SW.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tsutomu Ochi, Katsuhiro Kajio, Kouetsu Hibino, Yasuyuki Asai, Yixin Zeng, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Yuichi Yagami, Mikio Wada, Haruhisa Niimi
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Patent number: 6860135Abstract: In a forming press, a blank is pressed formed into a press-formed workpiece by means of an upper die and a lower die, while a peripheral edge portion of the blank is clamped by means of a die and a blank holder insert of the forming press. Subsequently, a central portion of the press-formed workpiece is partially held by means of the upper die and the lower die so as to draw a peripheral portion of the press-formed workpiece away from the central portion thereof, thereby removing strain from the press-formed workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Inventors: Naoki Yoshioka, Kenichi Kusunoki, Yuichi Yagami, Mikio Wada, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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Patent number: 6833213Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell, where the fuel cell has two separators and an MEA sandwiched by the metal separators. The separator has a portion corresponding to the power generating portion of the MEA and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion. The separator has a gas passage at a first surface and a coolant passage at a second, opposite surface. The gas passage has an odd number of straight-extending portions and an even number of U-turn portions and extends between the opposing portions by U-turning twice or more. The coolant passage extends straight between the opposing portions without U-turning.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mikio Wada, Toshiyuki Inagaki, Yuichi Yagami, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20040247951Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Harushisa Niimi, Mikio Wada, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Yixin Zeng, Kouetsu Hibino, Tsutomu Ochi, Yasuyuki Asai, Katsuhiro Kajio, Yuichi Yagami
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Patent number: 6794079Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator including a first member made from metal and a second member made from synthetic resin. The separator has a power generating portion corresponding portion including a gas passage portion and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion corresponding portion. A manifold portion is formed in the opposing portions. The manifold portion is offset from the gas passage portion. A gas passage connecting portion is formed in the second member and fluidly connects the manifold portion and the gas passage portion. A gas flow adjusting portion is formed for directing a direction of a gas flow at the gas passage connecting portion to a direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions and making a gas flow into and from the gas passage portion uniform in the direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Mikio Wada, Yuichi Yagami, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20030215694Abstract: In a fuel-cell separator, a gas flow channel, in which an “inverse S”-shaped gas flow channel and an S-shaped gas flow channel are formed symmetrical to each other and converge at their downstream portions in such a manner as to have gas flow channel portions in common, is disposed in a separator face. The cross-sectional area of the common gas flow channel portions is smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of non-common gas flow channel portions that are located upstream of a confluent portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Inventors: Ken Nomura, Mikio Wada, Yuichi Yagami, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20030150162Abstract: A seal arrangement for a fuel cell structure is provided which includes a seal portion in the form of a gasket between adjacent fuel cells in a stack of fuel cells. In the seal arrangement, a portion of the fuel cell structure that overlaps the gasket as viewed in a direction of lamination of the cells has a constant-thickness structure having a substantially constant thickness. The seal arrangement may further be arranged to seal fuel cell coolant passages and manifolds from fuel cell gas passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventors: Toshiyuki Inagaki, Tadahiro Ichioka, Mikio Wada
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Publication number: 20030145643Abstract: In a forming press, a blank is pressed formed into a press-formed workpiece by means of an upper die and a lower die, while a peripheral edge portion of the blank is clamped by means of a die and a blank holder insert of the forming press. Subsequently, a central portion of the press-formed workpiece is partially held by means of the upper die and the lower die so as to draw a peripheral portion of the press-formed workpiece away from the central portion thereof, thereby removing strain from the press-formed workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Naoki Yoshioka, Kenichi Kusunoki, Yuichi Yagami, Mikio Wada, Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20030126796Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Kouetsu Hibino, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yuichi Yagami, Mikio Wada, Tsutomu Ochi, Katsuhiro Kajio, Toshiyuki Inagaki, Yasuyuki Asai, Yixin Zeng, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Haruhisa Niimi