Patents by Inventor Shirou Fujimura

Shirou Fujimura 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: 9511576
    Abstract: A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive portion is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirata, Shirou Fujimura, Hajime Banno
  • Patent number: 9364883
    Abstract: This method is for producing a compact (fuel-cell separator) having a projection by pressing a plate by a die and a punch. A tip end surface of the punch presses the plate to form an overhang, and then a sidewall of the overhang is sandwiched between an inclined surface of the die and an inclined surface of the punch, and in this state the sidewall is rolled, thereby forming the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuma Watanabe, Kohei Ushida, Shirou Fujimura
  • Publication number: 20150202856
    Abstract: A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive portion is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Shirou Fujimura, Hajime Banno
  • Patent number: 9016345
    Abstract: A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive mechanism is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirata, Shirou Fujimura, Hajime Banno
  • Patent number: 8828622
    Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell is provided and may include a plurality of linearly extending protrusions and a plurality of flat walls alternately arranged with the plurality of linearly extending protrusions. Each protrusion is defined by a top wall and a pair of side walls and the linearly extending protrusions are parallel to each other. In addition, a gas passage forming groove is defined between each adjacent pair of linearly extending protrusions, a belt-like groove is provided on an inner surface of each flat wall that faces the corresponding gas passage forming groove, and an inclination angle is set with respect to each flat wall and corresponding side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Takuma Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8361269
    Abstract: A movable punch punches a plate piece from an original material sheet. The punched plate piece is rotated relative to and laminated onto another plate piece. A plurality of projections are formed on the outer circumference of each plate piece. The movable punch has a plurality of projection forming blades, the number of which is greater than the number of the projections of the plate pieces. Prior to the punching of the plate piece by means of the movable punch, blank holes for nullifying the formation of the projections are formed in the original material sheet at positions that correspond to projection forming blades. Further, as the punching of the plate pieces from the original material sheet progresses, the positions of the blank holes are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Sakakibara, Shirou Fujimura
  • Patent number: 8235278
    Abstract: A press apparatus includes a mounting table and a pressing member. A workpiece formed of a plurality of laminated core sheets is placed on the mounting table, and the pressing member is used for pressing the workpiece on the mounting table from above. The mounting table is supported by a base member so as to be loosely movable in a horizontal plane. When the pressing member is lowered, a positioning member determines the position of the workpiece such that the core sheets of the workpiece are aligned along a single vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Takuma Watanabe, Hajime Banno
  • Patent number: 8215148
    Abstract: A shear punching die assembly having first and second die units in which a material is punched to form a work while the material is clamped between the first and second die units is taught that preferably include a main punch contained in the first die unit and having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a shape of the work, an ejector contained in the second die unit and positioned axially opposite to the main punch, an ejector biasing member normally biasing the ejector toward the main punch, an ejector retaining device that is capable of acting on the ejector when the first and second die units are in a closed condition, thereby retaining the ejector in a predetermined position, and an ejector releasing device that is capable of acting on the ejector retaining device when the first and second die units are opened over a desired distance, thereby releasing the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Kouhei Ushida, Takuma Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120055223
    Abstract: This method is for producing a compact (fuel-cell separator) having a projection by pressing a plate by a die and a punch. A tip end surface of the punch presses the plate to form an overhang, and then a sidewall of the overhang is sandwiched between an inclined surface of the die and an inclined surface of the punch, and in this state the sidewall is rolled, thereby forming the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuma WATANABE, Kohei USHIDA, Shirou FUJIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120048471
    Abstract: A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive mechanism is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Shirou FUJIMURA, Hajime BANNO
  • Patent number: 8113030
    Abstract: Methods are taught for manufacturing a work having a peripheral flange by pressing a sheet material may include half die cutting the material so as to simultaneously form inner and outer circumferential surface of the peripheral flange while the peripheral flange is simultaneously subjected to isostatic pressures that are directed from the flange inner surface to the flange outer surface or from the flange outer surface to the flange inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Kouhei Ushida
  • Publication number: 20110123904
    Abstract: Oxygen gas passage forming grooves are formed on a positive electrode-side separator. A pair of side walls are formed integrally with each flat wall of the separator. The side walls extend from the side edges of the flat wall. The side walls extend such that the space in between the side walls decreases toward the positive electrode layer. Bottom walls are formed integrally with the flat walls such that each bottom wall connects the upper ends of adjacent side walls to each other. The bottom walls contact the positive electrode layer. A belt-like groove is formed in the inner surface of each flat wall that faces the oxygen gas passage forming grooves. The belt-like groove is located in the center of the widthwise direction of the flat wall. When the belt-like grooves are formed, the width of each flat wall is increased so that the corresponding side walls are inclined relative to the flat wall. The belt-like groove increases the volume of the oxygen gas passage forming groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shirou FUJIMURA, Takuma WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20110095072
    Abstract: A press apparatus includes a mounting table and a pressing member. A workpiece formed of a plurality of laminated core sheets is placed on the mounting table, and the pressing member is used for pressing the workpiece on the mounting table from above. The mounting table is supported by a base member so as to be loosely movable in a horizontal plane. When the pressing member is lowered, a positioning member determines the position of the workpiece such that the core sheets of the workpiece are aligned along a single vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shirou FUJIMURA, Takuma WATANABE, Hajime BANNO
  • Publication number: 20110024489
    Abstract: A movable punch punches a plate piece from an original material sheet. The punched plate piece is rotated relative to and laminated onto another plate piece. A plurality of projections are formed on the outer circumference of each plate piece. The movable punch has a plurality of projection forming blades, the number of which is greater than the number of the projections of the plate pieces. Prior to the punching of the plate piece by means of the movable punch, blank holes for nullifying the formation of the projections are formed in the original material sheet at positions that correspond to projection forming blades. Further, as the punching of the plate pieces from the original material sheet progresses, the positions of the blank holes are changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masami SAKAKIBARA, Shirou FUJIMURA
  • Publication number: 20090301161
    Abstract: A shear punching die assembly having first and second die units in which a material is punched to form a work while the material is clamped between the first and second die units is taught that preferably include a main punch contained in the first die unit and having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a shape of the work, an ejector contained in the second die unit and positioned axially opposite to the main punch, an ejector biasing member normally biasing the ejector toward the main punch, an ejector retaining device that is capable of acting on the ejector when the first and second die units are in a closed condition, thereby retaining the ejector in a predetermined position, and an ejector releasing device that is capable of acting on the ejector retaining device when the first and second die units are opened over a desired distance, thereby releasing the ejector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Kouhei Ushida, Takuma Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090025450
    Abstract: Methods are taught for manufacturing a work having a peripheral flange by pressing a sheet material may include half die cutting the material so as to simultaneously form inner and outer circumferential surface of the peripheral flange while the peripheral flange is simultaneously subjected to isostatic pressures that are directed from the flange inner surface to the flange outer surface or from the flange outer surface to the flange inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Kouhei Ushida