Patents by Inventor Takafumi Hirata

Takafumi Hirata 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: 20240116195
    Abstract: Provided is a bending structure that can be reduced in diameter. The present invention is provided with a bending part 9 which has an elastically bendable and expandable inner coil part 13 and outer coil part 15, and in which a corresponding winding section 13a of the inner coil part 13 is fit in the space between adjacent winding sections 15a of the outer coil part 15. At least one of the inner and outer coil parts 13 and 15 is conductive and forms a conductive path P1. The bending part 9, which is capable of suppressing compression in the axial direction, enables the formation of the conductive path P1 without the need of another conductive line or the like, thereby simplifying the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Yuki HOTODA
  • Publication number: 20230405844
    Abstract: A bending operation mechanism comprises: an elastically bendable driving part; an elastically bendable driven part that is provided separate from the driving part; and a linking part that connects the driving part and the driven part, and tensions and bends the driven part in accordance with bending of the driving part. The driving part and the driven part each comprise an inner coil part and an outer coil part that are bendable with respect to the axial direction, and wound parts corresponding to the inner coil part are respectively fitted to pitches between adjacent wound parts of the outer coil part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Yuki HOTODA, Masahiro INABA
  • Publication number: 20230339124
    Abstract: Provided are a bending structure and a joint function part, capable of stabilizing bending operation and simplifying a structure. An inner coiled part is located into an outer coiled part. The outer coiled part and the inner coiled part have a plurality of gaps distancing adjacent coils in an axial direction, and the coils of the inner coiled part fit between the adjacent coils of the outer coiled part while being in contact with the adjacent coils. A dimension P is set in a range meeting ?R/4N?P<d??R/4N in which P is the dimension of the gap of the outer coiled part in the axial direction in a free state, N is the number of turns of the outer coiled part, R is a diameter of the outer coiled part, and d is a wire diameter of the wire of the inner coiled part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Motoyuki OTSUKA, Takafumi HIRATA, Shimpei KUROKAWA, Yuki HOTODA
  • Publication number: 20230330871
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bending structural body with which a simplified structure can be achieved. The bending structural body comprises: an inner cylinder that is formed from a first inner coil part and a first outer coil part, and in which wound parts corresponding to the first inner coil part are respectively fitted to pitches between adjacent wound parts of the first outer coil part; an outer cylinder that covers at least some of the outer circumference of the inner cylinder with a space therebetween, that is formed from a second inner coil part and a second outer coil part, and in which wound parts corresponding to the second inner coil part are respectively fitted to pitches between adjacent wound parts of the second outer coil part; and drive wires and guide wires that are guided and axially inserted into the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Yuki HOTODA, Masahiro INABA, Yuki HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230256625
    Abstract: A joint function unit, in which a movable part is supported by a base partso as to be displaceable in an axial direction thereof, includes: a plurality of drive wireseach having a fixed partfixed to the movable parton one side in the axial direction and the a supported partsupported by the base parton the other side in the axial direction; and an elastic bodysupporting the supported partof each of the plurality of drive wireson the base part, energizing the supported partwith respect to the fixed partin the axial direction, and applying tension to the drive wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Yuki HOTODA, Masahiro INABA
  • Publication number: 20230001590
    Abstract: Provided is a bending structure and a joint function part, capable of ensuring sufficient flexibility and rigidity in an axial direction. The bending structure is provided with an outer coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and an inner coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and arranged in the outer coiled part, wherein the outer coiled part has a plurality of gaps to distance adjacent coils, and coils of the inner coiled part are provided so as to correspond to the gaps of the outer coiled part and fit between the adjacent coils while being in contact with the adjacent coils of the outer coiled part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Shimpei KUROKAWA, Yuki HOTODA
  • Publication number: 20220381737
    Abstract: Provided are a standard sample film for use in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the standard sample film containing an organic substance and having a small variation in signal intensity of an ion of a metal element depending on a measurement position; a standard sample; a method for producing a standard sample film; a sample set; a quantitative analysis method; and a transfer film. The standard sample film of the present invention is a standard sample film for use in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the standard sample film containing a polymer and a metal element, and having a maximum height difference in film thickness of the standard sample film of 0.50 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Takuro SUGIYAMA, Yuko TERAO, Yasuhiko HIRANA, Tetsuro OTSUKA, Akinori SUGISHIMA, Yasuharu SHIRAISHI, Takafumi HIRATA, Yoshiki MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20220193932
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible member that can exhibit excellent load resistance and flexibility while achieving a reduction in size. This flexible member includes: a main body part which has multiple wave washers stacked in an axial direction and joined to each other, and the main body part is able to be bent with respect to the axial direction due to elastic deformation of the wave washers; and a linking member that is elastically deformable, the linking member being provided at an end part of the main body part and being linked to other member. A deformation amount of the linking member is smaller than a deformation amount of the wave washer, when the main body part is bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki OTSUKA, Takafumi HIRATA, Shimpei KUROKAWA, Soichi NAKAYAMA, Masahiro INABA
  • Publication number: 20210307773
    Abstract: An instrument for a surgical assistance robot is provided with a bending structure that enables a joint function part to be bent and is provided with an outer coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and an inner coiled part formed of a wire wound in a coiled shape and arranged in the outer coiled part, wherein the outer coiled part has a plurality of gaps to distance adjacent coils, and coils of the inner coiled part are provided so as to correspond to the gaps of the outer coiled part and fit between the adjacent coils while being in contact with the adjacent coils of the outer coiled part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Takafumi HIRATA, Shimpei KUROKAWA, Yuki HOTODA, Daisuke HARAGUCHI, Koki SHINDO, Kyohei TAKIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9388891
    Abstract: A multi-shaft drive device is provided that is capable of obtaining an appropriate backlash in an enmeshed state of an output side bevel gear and an input side bevel gear. An output side bevel gear (35) that is biased in the direction of an input side bevel gear by a coil spring contacts a shaft support bush attached to a wall portion (17) in an enmeshed state with the input side bevel gear. A bias direction stroke end of the output side bevel gear (35) is accordingly restricted. Moreover, the wall portion (17) is provided to a gear holder (15) fixed to a device case (10) that supports the input side bevel gear, thereby enabling the axial direction position of the output side bevel gear (35) to always be positioned at a uniform position to enmesh appropriately with the input side bevel gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Takahiro Fujii, Kiyoshi Nakajima, Shinji Iino, Soichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9267589
    Abstract: The present invention obtains a multi-shaft drive device that can protect a rack and pinion from operative load input to a selector. The multi-shaft drive device is provided with: an input-side bevel gear (52) to which motor power is transmitted; and an output-side bevel gear (34) that transmits the power transmitted from the input-side bevel gear (52) to a movable mechanism. The multi-shaft drive device is further provided with: a selector (10) that connects/disconnects the meshing of the output-side bevel gear (34) and the input-side bevel gear (52); and a rotating shaft (16) that causes the selector (10) to slide via a rack (18) and pinion (17). Furthermore, the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft (16) is regulated by the end of the pinion (17) contacting a vertical wall (1A) of a case (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Shinji Iino, Soichi Nakayama, Takeshi Nakamura, Masahiro Oda, Kenichi Katsube
  • Patent number: 9222562
    Abstract: To provide a multi-shaft driving device that aims for a lightening of weight and lowering of cost as compared with conventional structures. In a structure in which, when a movable shaft (40) is slidably installed at an output shaft (20) and advances toward an input-side bevel gear (14), an output-side bevel gear (50) of a distal end side of the movable shaft (40) meshes-together with the input-side bevel gear (14), and the movable shaft (40) rotates and rotation of this movable shaft (40) is transmitted to the output shaft (20), the movable shaft (40) and the output-side bevel gear (50) are molded integrally of resin, and the output shaft (20) also is formed of resin, and the movable shaft (40) is slidably exteriorly placed on an outer peripheral side of the output shaft (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Hirata, Ryohei Shigematsu, Takahiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 9174558
    Abstract: A seat operating device comprising: an operation member; a first clutch member that is connected to an adjusting mechanism, and in which is formed a first cut-out portion that opens outwardly in a rotation radial direction of the first clutch member; a second clutch member that is connected to another adjusting mechanism, and in which is formed a second cut-out portion that opens outwardly in a rotation radial direction of the second clutch member; and a switching member having a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that are positioned at mutually opposite sides across a rotational center. When the switching member is positioned at one end of a range of movement of the switching member, the first engaging portion engages with the first cut-out portion, and, when the switching member is positioned at another end of the range of movement, the second engaging portion engages with the second cut-out portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Miho Nakazono, Takeshi Nakamura, Hiroshi Yagame, Hironobu Okamura
  • Publication number: 20140300160
    Abstract: A seat operating device comprising: an operation member; a first clutch member that is connected to an adjusting mechanism, and in which is formed a first cut-out portion that opens outwardly in a rotation radial direction of the first clutch member; a second clutch member that is connected to another adjusting mechanism, and in which is formed a second cut-out portion that opens outwardly in a rotation radial direction of the second clutch member; and a switching member having a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that are positioned at mutually opposite sides across a rotational center. When the switching member is positioned at one end of a range of movement of the switching member, the first engaging portion engages with the first cut-out portion, and, when the switching member is positioned at another end of the range of movement, the second engaging portion engages with the second cut-out portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Miho Nakazono, Takeshi Nakamura, Hiroshi Yagame, Hironobu Okamura
  • Publication number: 20130327180
    Abstract: A multi-shaft drive device is provided that is capable of obtaining an appropriate backlash in an enmeshed state of an output side bevel gear and an input side bevel gear. An output side bevel gear (35) that is biased in the direction of an input side bevel gear by a coil spring contacts a shaft support bush attached to a wall portion (17) in an enmeshed state with the input side bevel gear. A bias direction stroke end of the output side bevel gear (35) is accordingly restricted. Moreover, the wall portion (17) is provided to a gear holder (15) fixed to a device case (10) that supports the input side bevel gear, thereby enabling the axial direction position of the output side bevel gear (35) to always be positioned at a uniform position to enmesh appropriately with the input side bevel gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Takahiro Fujii, Kiyoshi Nakajima, Shinji Iino, Soichi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20130327181
    Abstract: The present invention obtains a multi-shaft drive device that can protect a rack and pinion from operative load input to a selector. The multi-shaft drive device is provided with: an input-side bevel gear (52) to which motor power is transmitted; and an output-side bevel gear (34) that transmits the power transmitted from the input-side bevel gear (52) to a movable mechanism. The multi-shaft drive device is further provided with: a selector (10) that connects/disconnects the meshing of the output-side bevel gear (34) and the input-side bevel gear (52); and a rotating shaft (16) that causes the selector (10) to slide via a rack (18) and pinion (17). Furthermore, the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft (16) is regulated by the end of the pinion (17) contacting a vertical wall (1A) of a case (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., LTD
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Shinji Iino, Soichi Nakayama, Takeshi Nakamura, Masahiro Oda, Kenichi Katsube
  • Publication number: 20130255441
    Abstract: To provide a multi-shaft driving device that aims for a lightening of weight and lowering of cost as compared with conventional structures. In a structure in which, when a movable shaft (40) is slidably installed at an output shaft (20) and advances toward an input-side bevel gear (14), an output-side bevel gear (50) of a distal end side of the movable shaft (40) meshes-together with the input-side bevel gear (14), and the movable shaft (40) rotates and rotation of this movable shaft (40) is transmitted to the output shaft (20), the movable shaft (40) and the output-side bevel gear (50) are molded integrally of resin, and the output shaft (20) also is formed of resin, and the movable shaft (40) is slidably exteriorly placed on an outer peripheral side of the output shaft (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Takafumi Hirata, Ryohei Shigematsu, Takahiro Fujii
  • Publication number: 20130192418
    Abstract: Force of used spring can be weak, wear amount of power transmission member (gear or the like) can be reduced, and generation of strange noises can inhibited. When the dial cam is rotated and the recess of the outer peripheral surface faces the front end portion of the pin of the connection shaft, the connection shaft, which is biased by the force of the coil spring, is connected to the bevel gear, which engages with the bevel gear and is rotated, via the clutch teeth. Thus, the connection shaft is rotated, and the output shaft is rotated together with the connection shaft. That is, the power of the motor is transmitted to the output shaft. Since the coil spring is used for connecting the connection shaft to the bevel gear, the force of the coil spring can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Kenji Murakami, Kiyoshi Nakajima, Takafumi Hirata, Takahiro Fujii, Shinji Iino
  • Patent number: 8164811
    Abstract: For realizing widening of a light scanning angle and excellent durability, the optical scanning actuator includes a movable unit that supports an optical element, a plurality of leaf springs having a thin plate shape with one end portion being fixed and another end portion being attached to the movable unit, and an electromagnetic driving unit including a magnet, a yoke laminated on the magnet to form a closed magnetic circuit together with the magnet, and a coil held by the movable unit. The coil is positioned in a gap between the magnet and the yoke such that opening plane of the coil is substantially orthogonal to a laminating direction of the magnet and the yoke. The movable unit is driven by an electromagnetic force applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Hiroshi Imamura, Takafumi Hirata
  • Patent number: 8035875
    Abstract: An object detector has a light projecting unit that projects light, a light scanning actuator that scans the light, and a light receiving unit. The light scanning actuator includes plate springs, each having a thin-plate shape and one end in a longitudinal direction thereof being fixed; a movable part attached to the other ends in the longitudinal directions of the plate springs; and an electromagnetic driving unit having a magnet that generates a magnetic flux, a yoke that forms a closed magnetic circuit with the magnet and has a part being stacked on the magnet, and a coil held by the movable part and positioned in a gap between the magnet and the yoke such that an aperture plane is substantially orthogonal to a stacking direction of the magnet and the yoke, the electromagnetic driving unit configured to drive the movable part by an electromagnetic force applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Hiroshi Imamura, Takafumi Hirata