Patents by Inventor Naoki Marui

Naoki Marui 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: 20260062231
    Abstract: A parts feeding system includes: a conveyance carrier having an arc shape including a circular shape or an elliptic arc shape including an elliptic shape for conveying a workpiece; a parts feeder feeding the workpiece to the conveyance carrier; and a robot fixed at a base end thereof and picking up the workpiece on the conveyance carrier at a tip end thereof. The robot has a plurality of arm members rotating around rotational axes, and a first rotational axis at the most basal end side is located inside a virtual circle or a virtual ellipse of the conveyance carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2025
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo SAKATA, Toru MIYAKE, Yukihiro KURITA, Naoki MARUI
  • Publication number: 20260037496
    Abstract: A parameter adjustment device comprises a coordinate data acquisition unit that acquires coordinate data of an industrial machine; a parameter generation unit that generates an operation parameter; a parameter storage unit that stores the operation parameter; a state data acquisition unit that acquires state data of the industrial machine; an index data calculation unit that calculates index data based on the state data; a sample storage unit that stores sample data in which the operation parameter is associated with the index data; a parameter search unit that uses the sample data to search for an operation parameter estimated to be appropriate; and a model training unit that uses training data in which an operation parameter estimated to be appropriate is associated with the coordinate data to generate a trained model for estimating an appropriate parameter from the coordinate data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventors: Takeshi NARITA, Naoki MARUI
  • Patent number: 11865718
    Abstract: A working device includes a link actuation device and a control device for the link actuation device. The control device includes: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of the target positions; a calculation unit configured to sequentially read out the respective target positions stored to calculate movement amounts and movement speeds of the respective actuators between the target positions; and a control unit configured to operate the respective actuators by the movement amounts and at the movement speeds of the respective actuators calculated by the calculation unit. The control unit is capable of changing acceleration and deceleration times of the actuators for each of the target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 11420322
    Abstract: A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou Nose, Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui
  • Patent number: 11298814
    Abstract: A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui, Seigo Sakata, Kenzou Nose
  • Patent number: 11247333
    Abstract: The parallel link mechanism is applied to a work device in which a link actuation device and a combined-side actuator are combined. A control device includes a storage that stores a plurality of work coordinates as well as a work-point movement velocity as a target velocity of an end effector and a posture change velocity as a target angular velocity to be set for changing the posture of the end effector. A controller includes a switching function unit that switches the target velocity used for calculating movement velocities of the respective posture control actuators and a movement velocity of the combined-side actuator, to the work-point movement velocity and to the posture change velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 11154983
    Abstract: In a link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is arbitrarily changed by actuators provided to two or more link mechanisms. The manipulating device includes a posture acquirer for acquiring a distal end posture represented by a bending angle and a turning angle, from a coordinate position at which a distal end side spherical link center is projected onto a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system that has an origin located on an extension of an axis of the proximal end side link hub and is orthogonal to the extension of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata
  • Patent number: 11154994
    Abstract: A work device is configured to perform a work with use of an end effector and have six degrees of freedom. The work device including: a linear motion unit obtained by combining three linear motion actuators, to have three degrees of freedom; and a rotation unit obtained by combining a plurality of rotation mechanisms each having one or more degrees of rotational freedom, to have three degrees of freedom. A base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to a mount. A base portion of the rotation unit is fixed to an output portion of the linear motion unit. The end effector is mounted to an output portion of the rotation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11130225
    Abstract: A working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining three linear motion actuators; and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining a plurality of rotating mechanisms each having one or more rotational degrees of freedom. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to the mount. A base portion of the rotary unit is fixedly mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. End effectors are mounted on both the output portion of the linear motion unit and an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Kenzou Nose, Naoki Marui, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11130229
    Abstract: An operation command generator includes: an area division unit configured to divide a line on a flat work surface of a target workpiece W into a straight area and a corner area, using a sharp boundary surface; a straight area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command for operating only the linear motion mechanism while keeping the posture of the parallel link mechanism fixed, in the straight area; and a corner area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command so that an acting point of the end effector passes on the boundary surface at a substantially constant speed by the linear motion mechanism and the parallel link mechanism performing coordinated operations in the corner area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo Sakata, Yuuki Shimura, Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui
  • Publication number: 20200384642
    Abstract: A working device includes a link actuation device and a control device for the link actuation device. The control device includes: a storage unit configured to store a plurality of the target positions; a calculation unit configured to sequentially read out the respective target positions stored to calculate movement amounts and movement speeds of the respective actuators between the target positions; and a control unit configured to operate the respective actuators by the movement amounts and at the movement speeds of the respective actuators calculated by the calculation unit. The control unit is capable of changing acceleration and deceleration times of the actuators for each of the target positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 10828779
    Abstract: A diagnostic device is to be used for a link actuation device. A distal end side link hub to be coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that posture of the distal end side link hub is changeable. Each of the three or more link mechanisms is to be associated with a respective one of actuators. A predetermined action is to be carried out under a predetermined condition by driving each of the actuators. A preload applicator is to cause a preload to be applied to the link actuation device. A torque detector is to detect a drive torque of each of the actuators while a preload is being applied. A determiner is to determine whether or not the torque that is detected by the torque detector lies within a predetermined range. A notifier is to notify the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Marui, Hiroshi Isobe, Yukihiro Nishio, Seigo Sakata
  • Publication number: 20200206897
    Abstract: A link actuation device includes a proximal-end-side link hub, a distal-end-side link hub, three or more link mechanisms each coupling the link hubs such that a posture of the distal-end-side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal-end-side link hub. Each link mechanism includes a proximal-side end link member, a proximal-side intermediate link member, a distal-side intermediate link member, and a distal-side end link member. Actuators for arbitrarily changing the posture and a distance from the distal-end-side link hub to the proximal-end-side link hub are provided to three or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms. A control unit calculates a rotation angle of the proximal-side end link member according to a targeted posture of the distal-end-side link hub and a targeted distance between the centers of the spherical links, and controls the respective actuators so as to attain the calculated rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Naoki Marui, Seigo Sakata, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20200198132
    Abstract: The parallel link mechanism is applied to a work device in which a link actuation device and a combined-side actuator are combined. A control device includes a storage that stores a plurality of work coordinates as well as a work-point movement velocity as a target velocity of an end effector and a posture change velocity as a target angular velocity to be set for changing the posture of the end effector. A controller includes a switching function unit that switches the target velocity used for calculating movement velocities of the respective posture control actuators and a movement velocity of the combined-side actuator, to the work-point movement velocity and to the posture change velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki MARUI, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 10513028
    Abstract: The composite work apparatus includes: two link actuation devices that support two working bodies such that postures of the working bodies can be individually changed; and three or more linear motion actuators that move the two link actuation devices and two or more work objects relative to each other. In each link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is connected to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture control actuator that arbitrarily changes the posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is provided to each of two or more link mechanisms of the three or more link mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata, Naoki Marui, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20190366535
    Abstract: An operation command generator includes: an area division unit configured to divide a line on a flat work surface of a target workpiece W into a straight area and a corner area, using a sharp boundary surface; a straight area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command for operating only the linear motion mechanism while keeping the posture of the parallel link mechanism fixed, in the straight area; and a corner area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command so that an acting point of the end effector passes on the boundary surface at a substantially constant speed by the linear motion mechanism and the parallel link mechanism performing coordinated operations in the corner area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo SAKATA, Yuuki SHIMURA, Hiroshi ISOBE, Naoki MARUI
  • Patent number: 10391641
    Abstract: A combination link actuation device has two link actuation devices combined with each other. Each link actuation device is provided so as to connect a distal end side link hub to a proximal end side link hub such that an orientation of the distal end side link hub is changed relative to the proximal end side link hub through three link mechanisms aligned in a circumferential direction. An orientation controlling actuator is provided in two or more link mechanisms among the three link mechanisms to optionally change an orientation of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub. At least one circumferential separation angle among separation angles of the three link mechanisms is greater than 120°. The two link actuation devices are disposed such that portions, of the link mechanisms, where the separation angle is greater than 120° oppose each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Konagai, Hiroshi Isobe, Seigo Sakata, Naoki Marui, Kenzou Nose
  • Publication number: 20190255699
    Abstract: A working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining three linear motion actuators; and a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom and obtained by combining a plurality of rotating mechanisms each having one or more rotational degrees of freedom. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion of the linear motion unit is fixed to the mount. A base portion of the rotary unit is fixedly mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. End effectors are mounted on both the output portion of the linear motion unit and an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi ISOBE, Kenzou NOSE, Naoki MARUI, Hiroyuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20190255700
    Abstract: A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenzou NOSE, Hiroshi ISOBE, Naoki MARUI
  • Publication number: 20190099878
    Abstract: In a link actuation device, a distal end side link hub is coupled to a proximal end side link hub via three or more link mechanisms such that a posture of the distal end side link hub can be changed relative to the proximal end side link hub, and a posture of the distal end side link hub relative to the proximal end side link hub is arbitrarily changed by actuators provided to two or more link mechanisms. The manipulating device includes a posture acquirer for acquiring a distal end posture represented by a bending angle and a turning angle, from a coordinate position at which a distal end side spherical link center is projected onto a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system that has an origin located on an extension of an axis of the proximal end side link hub and is orthogonal to the extension of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki MARUI, Hiroshi ISOBE, Seigo SAKATA