Patents by Inventor Naoto Mimura

Naoto Mimura 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: 7219787
    Abstract: In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working drive units, board conveying/holding devices, recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged in the work area. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Patent number: 7200922
    Abstract: A first mounting unit and a second mounting unit capable of performing component holding, component recognition, and component placement for two boards independently of each other are provided. A first conveyance path for loading and unloading the first board, and a second conveyance path for loading and unloading the second board, are independently arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Naoto Mimura, Noriaki Yoshida, Yoshihiko Misawa, Takeyuki Kawase, Tetsutarou Hachimura, Toshiro Nishiwaki, Taira Ishii, Mitsuo Kawate, Hideaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7077262
    Abstract: In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working their drive units, board conveying/holding devices recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Patent number: 7036213
    Abstract: A first mounting unit and a second mounting unit capable of performing component holding, component recognition, and component placement for two boards independently of each other are provided. A first conveyance path for loading and unloading the first board, and a second conveyance path for loading and unloading the second board, are independently arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Naoto Mimura, Noriaki Yoshida, Yoshihiko Misawa, Takeyuki Kawase, Tetsutarou Hachimura, Toshiro Nishiwaki, Taira Ishii, Mitsuo Kawate, Hideaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7003872
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for mounting electronic components are provided which shorten a cycle time required for mounting and enable a component mounting machine to be arranged in a small area. There is provided a controller, so that a retreat control for a second electronic component is performed to a second component feeder so as to avoid an interference if a first electronic component or a component holder interferes with the second electronic component of the second component feeder because of movement of a mounting head. The time conventionally required for moving up and down a component holder can be reduced, and moreover the need of uselessly moving along a detour at a time of moving the mounting head is eliminated. The cycle time can be shortened, and eventually costs can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Mimura, Izumi Miura, Hirofumi Obara, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Nobuyuki Kakita, Kazunori Kanai, Osamu Okuda, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 6988612
    Abstract: In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working their drive units, board conveying/holding devices recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Publication number: 20060000085
    Abstract: A first mounting unit and a second mounting unit capable of performing component holding, component recognition, and component placement for two boards independently of each other are provided. A first conveyance path for loading and unloading the first board, and a second conveyance path for loading and unloading the second board, are independently arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Naoto Mimura, Noriaki Yoshida, Yoshihiko Misawa, Takeyuki Kawase, Tetsutarou Hachimura, Toshiro Nishiwaki, Taira Ishii, Mitsuo Kawate, Hideaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6948232
    Abstract: Disclosed are a component recognizing method and apparatus, and a component mounting method and apparatus, by which components with various heights held by a plurality of nozzles can be recognized continuously. The drive of a head is transmitted to nozzles, with surfaces to be recognized of components being controlled so as to be positioned in a recognizable range during respective recognizing operations of the components, and a continuous recognition is thereby made possible. The adjustment of heights of the surfaces to be recognized during the recognizing operations of the components is achieved by one drive unit and a plurality of drive transmitting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yazawa, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Atsushi Tanabe, Yoichi Tanaka, Takahiro Kurokawa, Naoto Mimura, Nobuyuki Kakita, Osamu Okuda
  • Publication number: 20050204553
    Abstract: In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working their drive units, board conveying/holding devices recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Patent number: 6945381
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit board fixing table having a structure in which no vibration or shock is applied to a transport motor when a circuit board is fixed and an electronic component mounting apparatus utilizing the circuit board fixing table and capable of mounting electronic components without causing operational failures during transportation. A circuit board fixing table for transporting a circuit board placed on transport belts to a predetermined position and fixing it with an elevating fixing device, the table having a transport motor provided separately from a support member for the transport belts for driving the transport belts and power transmission mechanisms A and B for transmitting a driving force of the transport motor to the transport belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Izumi Miura, Hirofumi Obara, Naoto Mimura, Kazuyuki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20050133346
    Abstract: In a component mounting work area, two electronic circuit boards are placed in a zigzag manner and components are mounted independently on each board. Two sets of working their drive units, board conveying/holding devices recognition cameras and so forth are also arranged. The board conveying/holding devices for holding boards are moved to positions close to component feed units, and components are mounted in respective mounting areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Publication number: 20050125998
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for mounting electronic components are provided which shorten a cycle time required for mounting and enable a component mounting machine to be arranged in a small area. There is provided a controller, so that a retreat control for a second electronic component is performed to a second component feeder so as to avoid an interference if a first electronic component or a component holder interferes with the second electronic component of the second component feeder because of movement of a mounting head. The time conventionally required for moving up and down a component holder can be reduced, and moreover the need of uselessly moving along a detour at a time of moving the mounting head is eliminated. The cycle time can be shortened, and eventually costs can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Naoto Mimura, Izumi Miura, Hirofumi Obara, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Kobuyuki Kakita, Kazunori Kanai, Osamu Okuda, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 6779259
    Abstract: Two or more parts feeding sections are provided, and in each of the parts feeding sections, identical combinations of parts cassettes aligned in the same arrangement are prepared. If one or more type of components that are to be picked up at one time by a plurality of suction nozzles is exhausted, the mounting head moves to the other parts feeding section, which provides the same combination of components for all the suction nozzles to pick up the components at one time, so that the mounting operation can be continued without stopping the apparatus for replenishment of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Mimura, Hirofumi Obara, Hiroshi Ogata, Chikashi Konishi
  • Publication number: 20040033128
    Abstract: A first mounting unit (101) and a second mounting unit (102) capable of performing component holding, component recognition, and component placement for two boards (2a, 2b) independently of each other are provided. A first conveyance path for loading and unloading the first board (2a) and a second conveyance path for loading and unloading the second board (2b) are independently arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Naoto Mimura, Noriaki Yoshida, Yoshihiko Misawa, Takeyuki Kawase, Tetsutarou Hachimura, Toshiro Nishiwaki, Taira Ishii, Mitsuo Kawate, Hideaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6688833
    Abstract: When a nozzle is selected, a piston rod (46) of a nozzle selecting cylinder (45) positioned at a lower end position unfailingly forms a gap (A) with an upper end of a nozzle elevating shaft (55) so that the piston rod of the cylinder (45) is not brought into contact with the nozzle elevating shaft at the time of nozzle selecting. Only when an elevating member (58) is lowered by a drive by an elevation drive motor (56), the piston rod (46) is brought into contact with the nozzle elevating shaft (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kabeshita, Osamu Okuda, Naoto Mimura
  • Patent number: 6681468
    Abstract: A component mounting apparatus and method allows for components supplied from component supplying members to be simultaneously or continuously held by component holding members without being affected by positional displacements of the component holding members relative to a head, a positional displacement of the component supplying members or the like. With a positional displacement amount (&Dgr;y) along a Y direction relative to a reference position of a nozzle taken into account, at a component supply cassette, driving a motor for moving components one by one along the Y direction to a component supply position is controlled, thereby positionally adjusting a component at the component supply position and absorbing the positional displacement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uchiyama, Hirofumi Obara, Naoto Mimura, Osamu Okuda, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 6571462
    Abstract: Two or more parts feeding sections are provided, and in each of the parts feeding sections, identical combinations of parts cassettes aligned in the same arrangement are prepared. If one or more type of components that are to be picked up at one time by a plurality of suction nozzles is exhausted, the mounting head moves to the other parts feeding section, which provides the same combination of components for all the suction nozzles to pick up the components at one time, so that the mounting operation can be continued without stopping the apparatus for replenishment of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTD
    Inventors: Naoto Mimura, Hirofumi Obara, Hiroshi Ogata, Chikashi Konishi
  • Publication number: 20030024112
    Abstract: Two or more parts feeding sections are provided, and in each of the parts feeding sections, identical combinations of parts cassettes aligned in the same arrangement are prepared. If one or more type of components that are to be picked up at one time by a plurality of suction nozzles is exhausted, the mounting head moves to the other parts feeding section, which provides the same combination of components for all the suction nozzles to pick up the components at one time, so that the mounting operation can be continued without stopping the apparatus for replenishment of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Naoto Mimura, Hirofumi Obara, Hiroshi Ogata, Chikashi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6490781
    Abstract: The safety device includes an opening/closing cover which isolates a takeout part and an accommodating part of a component feeder unit from each other and which has a sensor for detecting a closed state. The component feeder unit includes the component accommodating part, a feed-out part and the takeout part, and sensors for transmission through voids common to the plurality of set component feeder units. Upon a detection by any one of the sensors during the operation of the machine, the machine is halted. For replacement of the component feeder units, a changeover switch is pressed, by which the detecting function is paused for a specified time period. Thus, a safety device which allows the component feeder units to be replaced even during the operation of the machine can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kanai, Naoto Mimura, Yuji Miyata, Akira Kabeshita
  • Publication number: 20020069517
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit board fixing table having a structure in which no vibration or shock is applied to a transport motor when a circuit board is fixed and an electronic component mounting apparatus utilizing the circuit board fixing table and capable of mounting electronic components without causing operational failures during transportation. A circuit board fixing table for transporting a circuit board placed on transport belts to a predetermined position and fixing it with an elevating fixing device, the table having a transport motor provided separately from a support member for the transport belts for driving the transport belts and power transmission mechanisms A and B for transmitting a driving force of the transport motor to the transport belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Izumi Miura, Hirofumi Obara, Naoto Mimura, Kazuyuki Nakano