Patents by Inventor Shoji Aoyama

Shoji Aoyama 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: 20230347441
    Abstract: An air cylinder is joined to a guide pipe via a joining member. A stopper member is arranged in a position where the guide pipe and a feed pipe for feeding a projection nut are coupled to form a temporary locking chamber of the nut. A sliding rod is integrated with a smaller diameter guide rod and enters a screw hole. Relative positions of the temporary locking chamber and a feed rod are set such that the screw hole of the nut stopped in the temporary locking chamber is coaxial with the feed rod. A gap is formed between the sliding rod and the guide pipe while a support hole is formed in an end part of the guide pipe, and when the feed rod is retracted, the sliding rod is supported in a state where a slight sliding gap is left in the support hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 11759881
    Abstract: A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion, and is configured to fit a flange outer peripheral portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with an inclined guide surface. The close contact of the flange with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AOYAMA, SHOJI
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20230057888
    Abstract: A main body and an end cover are made of metal. A major diameter hole and a minor diameter hole that communicates with a through hole of the end cover are provided in a heat insulating guide sleeve inserted into the main body. A cooling water passage is formed in the heat insulating guide sleeve. A portion of the heat insulating guide sleeve located at an inner side of the cooling water passage serves as a heat insulating portion. A container of a permanent magnet is slidably inserted into the heat insulating portion. A magnetic force transmission member is slidably inserted into the minor diameter hole. The permanent magnet, the heat insulating portion, and the cooling water passage are arranged in a diameter direction of the main body. A depth dimension of the cooling water passage is smaller than a thickness dimension of the heat insulating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230035745
    Abstract: A guide pin made of a heat-resistant hard material and a sliding member made of an insulating synthetic resin material are integrated. An inserted portion and an extended portion are provided in the sliding member. The thickness of the extended portion is set to be thinner than the thickness of the inserted portion. An air passage is formed in the extended portion thereby forming a thin-wall deformable portion. The surface of the thin-wall deformable portion is configured to bulge toward the air passage side when the extended portion is thermally expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220371206
    Abstract: A shaft-like component supply device has a form in which a component supply pipe and an outer cylinder are intersected at an acute angle and coupled. A supply rod holds and advances a shaft-like component at a distal end and releases the shaft-like component at a target location. Meanwhile, component transfer from the outlet hole of the component supply pipe to the distal end of the supply rod is performed by the attraction force of a magnet. The supply rod includes an inner shaft mounted with a magnet and a hollow shaft. A first drive device that advances and retracts a holding piece and a second drive device that pulls back the magnet of the inner shaft in a direction away from the distal end of the supply rod are coupled to a single holding member mounted near a distal end part of an outer cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 11453082
    Abstract: A guide hole is constituted of a large-diameter hole, a medium-diameter hole, and a small-diameter hole. A sliding part fitted in the guide hole is formed of a synthetic resin material. A large-diameter portion of the sliding part is fitted in the large-diameter hole in a slidable state, and a medium-diameter portion is fitted in the medium-diameter hole in a slidable state. A movable end surface of the sliding part is in close contact with a stationary inner end surface of the guide hole. By configuring a width dimension of the movable end surface to be less than half of a thickness dimension of the large-diameter portion, a pressurizing force of the movable end surface is increased and a minute metal piece is pushed from the movable end surface into a base material of the sliding part, and a thickness dimension of the medium-diameter portion is set large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: AOYAMA, SHOJI
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11230439
    Abstract: A feeding rod is configured to insert a shaft-shaped component having a circular flange and a shaft portion into a receiving hole. A central axis of the shaft portion is disposed in an inclined state with respect to a central axis of the receiving hole due to the inclined disposition of the feeding rod. A surface of the flange is in close contact with a tip surface of the feeding rod due to an attraction force of a magnet of the feeding rod. A positioning protrusion receives an outer peripheral portion of the flange and sets a relative position between the feeding rod and the shaft-shaped component. A most advanced stop position of the feeding rod is a position where a tip portion of the shaft portion has entered the receiving hole, and the attraction force of the magnet is configured to be eliminated at the stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11179818
    Abstract: A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is to be brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface fitting an outer peripheral portion is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with a regulation inner surface formed on the projection portion in a state of being opposed to the distal end surface. With this, a receiving groove is formed, and a control gap is defined between the regulation inner surface and the flange. The close contact of the surface with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11179798
    Abstract: Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20210163233
    Abstract: A feeding rod is configured to insert a shaft-shaped component having a circular flange and a shaft portion into a receiving hole. A central axis of the shaft portion is disposed in an inclined state with respect to a central axis of the receiving hole due to the inclined disposition of the feeding rod. A surface of the flange is in close contact with a tip surface of the feeding rod due to an attraction force of a magnet of the feeding rod. A positioning protrusion receives an outer peripheral portion of the flange and sets a relative position between the feeding rod and the shaft-shaped component. A most advanced stop position of the feeding rod is a position where a tip portion of the shaft portion has entered the receiving hole, and the attraction force of the magnet is configured to be eliminated at the stop position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210039208
    Abstract: A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is to be brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface fitting an outer peripheral portion is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with a regulation inner surface formed on the projection portion in a state of being opposed to the distal end surface. With this, a receiving groove is formed, and a control gap is defined between the regulation inner surface and the flange. The close contact of the surface with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200338662
    Abstract: A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion, and is configured to fit a flange outer peripheral portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with an inclined guide surface. The close contact of the flange with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200189022
    Abstract: A guide hole is constituted of a large-diameter hole, a medium-diameter hole, and a small-diameter hole. A sliding part fitted in the guide hole is formed of a synthetic resin material. A large-diameter portion of the sliding part is fitted in the large-diameter hole in a slidable state, and a medium-diameter portion is fitted in the medium-diameter hole in a slidable state. A movable end surface of the sliding part is in close contact with a stationary inner end surface of the guide hole. By configuring a width dimension of the movable end surface to be less than half of a thickness dimension of the large-diameter portion, a pressurizing force of the movable end surface is increased and a minute metal piece is pushed from the movable end surface into a base material of the sliding part, and a thickness dimension of the medium-diameter portion is set large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10646952
    Abstract: Provided is a projection bolt welding method, which involves welding a projection bolt to a steel sheet component by electric resistance welding. The projection bolt includes a shank, a circular enlarged diameter portion, and a welding projection including an initial fusion portion with a tapered portion and a main fusion portion. A ratio of a volume of the initial fusion portion to a volume of a portion of the steel sheet component having the same diameter as a diameter of the initial fusion portion is selected, or a ratio of a circular area of the initial fusion portion to a sheet thickness of the steel sheet component is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10632562
    Abstract: A sliding member integrated with a guide pin is inserted into a guide hole of an electrode main body. An elastic ring is integrated with the guide pin under a state in which the guide pin passes through the elastic ring. A portion of the sliding member has a pressurizing end surface configured to press the elastic ring against an inner end surface of the guide hole. When the pressurizing end surface presses the elastic ring against the inner end surface, flow of the cooling air is interrupted. When the elastic ring is away from the inner end surface, the cooling air is allowed to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jyunnichi Suzuki, Takami Aramaki, Kenji Ninomiya, Hiromi Kudou, Yoshitaka Aoyama, Shoji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10350700
    Abstract: A welding apparatus includes: a welding machine having a lower arm member, an upper arm member, and electrodes configured to advance and retreat; a robot device to which the welding machine is mounted; a support member including a vertical member substantially in a vertical direction, and a horizontal member substantially in a horizontal direction. The vertical member is mounted on one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member at a position away from the electrode of the one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member; and a parts-feeding device mounted to the horizontal member and configured to feed parts to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20190134736
    Abstract: Provided is apart stopping/passing unit for apart including a unit main body having a part passage, an opening/closing member configured to open and close the part passage, and an attracting mechanism. The opening/closing member includes a stopper surface for stopping a part and a passing hole for allowing the part to pass therethrough. The attracting mechanism is configured to position the part by an attracting force when the stopper surface takes a part stopping position, and to allow the part to pass by elimination of an attraction force when the passing hole takes a part passing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Shoji AOYAMA, Yoshitaka AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180036829
    Abstract: A sliding member integrated with a guide pin is inserted into a guide hole of an electrode main body. An elastic ring is integrated with the guide pin under a state in which the guide pin passes through the elastic ring. A portion of the sliding member has a pressurizing end surface configured to press the elastic ring against an inner end surface of the guide hole. When the pressurizing end surface presses the elastic ring against the inner end surface, flow of the cooling air is interrupted. When the elastic ring is away from the inner end surface, the cooling air is allowed to flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jyunnichi SUZUKI, Takami ARAMAKI, Kenji NINOMIYA, Hiromi KUDOU, Yoshitaka AOYAMA, Shoji AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 9873572
    Abstract: A lower portion is formed in a vicinity of an end portion of a bottom member of a storage container. A lift member configured to lift parts kept on standby on the lower portion is arranged in a state of being movable up and down along an inner wall of the storage container. A transport unit configured to transport the part, which is lifted and transferred thereto by the lift member, to a target position is arranged, and a position at which the parts are to be transferred to the transport unit is set in a vicinity of an upper position of the lift member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Shoji Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20170129045
    Abstract: A welding apparatus includes: a welding machine having a lower arm member, an upper arm member, and electrodes configured to advance and retreat; a robot device to which the welding machine is mounted; a support member including a vertical member substantially in a vertical direction, and a horizontal member substantially in a horizontal direction. The vertical member is mounted on one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member at a position away from the electrode of the one of the lower arm member and the upper arm member; and a parts-feeding device mounted to the horizontal member and configured to feed parts to the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Shoji AOYAMA