Patents by Inventor Takashi Sakai

Takashi Sakai 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: 9862216
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power source unit supplying power to an electric load through a power supply line, a capacitor connected to the power supply line, a charge circuit charging the capacitor while restricting a current value of the power supplied from the power source unit, a detection unit detecting a voltage value of the capacitor, a controller which switches, after the charge of the capacitor is completed, a current value of the charge circuit to a first current value smaller than a current value supplied before the charge of the capacitor is completed, a first determination unit determining whether a first condition is satisfied based on the voltage value detected by the detection unit after the charge of the capacitor is completed, and a second determination unit determining whether an error process is to be performed based on a determination result of the first determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisao Okita, Yasufumi Ogasawara, Takashi Sakai, Toru Oshika, Shinya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9812682
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery module including a plurality of rechargeable batteries, an electronic component that contributes to charging and discharging of the rechargeable batteries, and an installation body including an extending portion, which extends vertically. The installation body includes a placing portion, which projects from the extending portion in a direction crossing the vertical direction. At least one of the battery module and the electronic component is installed in the extending portion while being placed on the placing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kazuki Maeda, Takayuki Kato, Shintaro Watanabe, Hidefumi Oishi, Takashi Sakai, Yuki Chujo, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Atsushi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9806308
    Abstract: A battery module is provided and includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries and a battery cover, wherein the rechargeable batteries are disposed adjacent to each other, each of the rechargeable batteries has a battery case having a wall portion equipped with an open valve that is constructed so as to open when the inner pressure of the battery case rises up to a threshold value, and the battery cover faces the wall portion. The battery cover has a plurality of cover members provided side by side in a direction toward which the rechargeable batteries are disposed adjacent to each other. The cover members include at least adjacent first and second cover members. The first cover member has a first edge portion and the second cover member has a second edge portion overlapped with the first edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shintaro Watanabe, Hidefumi Oishi, Takashi Sakai, Yuki Chujo, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Kazuki Maeda, Takayuki Kato, Tomonori Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20170288183
    Abstract: A battery module has battery cells. The battery cells are arranged side by side while being separately held by battery holders. The battery cells are connected in series with bus bars. Each bus bar has a bent portion. Each battery holder includes a protruding wall that is provided between connection terminals adjacent to each other in the direction in which the battery cells are arranged. The protruding walls protrude further than the connection terminals in the direction in which the connection terminals protrude from the cases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi SAKAI, Takayuki KATO, Hiromi UEDA, Naoto MORISAKU
  • Patent number: 9770831
    Abstract: A cable drawn from a lower arm of a robot into a first upper arm part of an upper arm is further drawn out to an exterior space of the robot through a first hole of a second upper arm part. The cable is drawn in contact with a sidewall part of the second upper arm part, and is disposed in a wrist arrangement portion through a second hole. A slack part is formed taking account of a length of the cable pulled by a wrist when the wrist pivots in the wrist arrangement portion, and the cable is drawn to a tool through a through hole of the wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP.
    Inventors: Takashi Sakai, Shunsuke Kosaka, Akira Kunisaki
  • Patent number: 9768465
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery assembly having battery structures arranged side by side, the battery structures each having a battery body and a battery holder, and a pressure application member. Each battery holder has a first surface, a second surface, a projecting portion, which projects from the first surface and has a distal end face, and a receptacle portion recessed in the second surface. The projecting portion of each battery holder is inserted into the receptacle portion of the adjacent battery holder in a state in which the distal end face is free of contact with the adjacent battery holder. Each battery body contacts the adjacent battery body such that at least one of the first and second surfaces of the battery holder, which holds a battery body, is free from contact with the adjacent battery holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kazuki Maeda, Takayuki Kato, Shintaro Watanabe, Hidefumi Oishi, Takashi Sakai, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku
  • Patent number: 9666840
    Abstract: A battery module has aligned battery cells, two plate members provided on the opposite ends in the aligning direction of the battery cells, fasteners joined to the plate members to integrate the battery cells, at least one connection bus bar, which connects terminals of adjacent battery cells in the aligning direction, and an elastic member, which absorbs expansion of the battery cells in the aligning direction. Each connection bus bar includes two connection portions connected to the terminals and a bend portion located between the two connection portions. In response to expansion in the aligning direction of the battery cells, the bend portion is extendable in the aligning direction. A total allowed deformation amount, which is based on the allowed deformation amount of the bend portions in the aligning direction, is set to be greater than or equal to the thickness in the aligning direction of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi Sakai, Takayuki Kato, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku
  • Patent number: 9595702
    Abstract: A battery module is provided with: battery holders, which have accommodation sections; rechargeable batteries arranged side-by-side while being respectively received in the accommodation sections; a metal plate member, which is provided at least between rechargeable batteries adjacent to each other in the direction in which the rechargeable batteries are arranged side-by-side; and a pressure application member, which presses the rechargeable batteries and the plate member in the direction of the side-by-side arrangement. The battery holders respectively have openings into which the plate members are fitted. The plate members are fitted into the openings to protrude from the battery holders in the direction in which the rechargeable batteries are arranged side-by-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shintaro Watanabe, Takahisa Sugimoto, Hidefumi Oishi, Takashi Sakai, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Kazuki Maeda, Takayuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9564668
    Abstract: A battery module joined to a joint body. Each heat transfer plate of the battery module has a sandwiched portion provided between adjacent battery cells and a joined portion. A first heat conductive layer that contacts a battery cell and has a first thickness is provided on the sandwiched portion of each heat transfer plate. A second heat conductive layer is provided on the facing surface of each heat transfer plate other than the heat transfer plate that is the closest to the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body. The second heat conductive layer is configured to contact the joint body. The second heat conductive layer on the heat transfer plate that is the farthest from the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body has a second thickness, which is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Naoto Morisaku, Takayuki Kato, Shintaro Watanabe, Hidefumi Oishi, Takashi Sakai, Yuki Chujo, Hiromi Ueda, Kazuki Maeda, Hirohisa Kato, Tomonori Sasaki, Atsushi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20170033332
    Abstract: A battery module has aligned battery cells, two plate members provided on the opposite ends in the aligning direction of the battery cells, fasteners joined to the plate members to integrate the battery cells, at least one connection bus bar, which connects terminals of adjacent battery cells in the aligning direction, and an elastic member, which absorbs expansion of the battery cells in the aligning direction. Each connection bus bar includes two connection portions connected to the terminals and a bend portion located between the two connection portions. In response to expansion in the aligning direction of the battery cells, the bend portion is extendable in the aligning direction. A total allowed deformation amount, which is based on the allowed deformation amount of the bend portions in the aligning direction, is set to be greater than or equal to the thickness in the aligning direction of the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi SAKAI, Takayuki KATO, Hiromi UEDA, Naoto MORISAKU
  • Publication number: 20170012276
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a casing having an inner surface and a battery module accommodated in the casing. The battery module includes a battery unit and two end plates. The battery unit includes battery cells that are arranged side by side. The end plates hold the battery unit in between. At least one of the end plates has a projection that projects further toward the inner surface of the casing than the battery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi SAKAI, Takayuki KATO, Hiromi UEDA, Naoto MORISAKU
  • Patent number: 9511984
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle is provided with a vehicle body, battery cells, which are the electric power source for the industrial vehicle and are located within the vehicle body, and a counterweight, which is located within the vehicle body. The counterweight has a weight portion and a weight body that extends from the weight portion. The battery cells are provided on both sides of the weight body and are thermally coupled to the weight body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi Sakai, Takahisa Sugimoto, Shintaro Watanabe, Hidefumi Oishi, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Kazuki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20160347103
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power source unit supplying power to an electric load through a power supply line, a capacitor connected to the power supply line, a charge circuit charging the capacitor while restricting a current value of the power supplied from the power source unit, a detection unit detecting a voltage value of the capacitor, a controller which switches, after the charge of the capacitor is completed, a current value of the charge circuit to a first current value smaller than a current value supplied before the charge of the capacitor is completed, a first determination unit determining whether a first condition is satisfied based on the voltage value detected by the detection unit after the charge of the capacitor is completed, and a second determination unit determining whether an error process is to be performed based on a determination result of the first determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Hisao Okita, Yasufumi Ogasawara, Takashi Sakai, Toru Oshika, Shinya Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20160347059
    Abstract: A control apparatus including a power supply unit configured to supply electric power, comprises: a capacitor connected to a power supply line extending from the power supply unit to a printhead; a discharge circuit configured to release charge stored in the capacitor; and a control unit configured to control a current value during a discharge operation by the discharge circuit, such that the current value increases as a voltage value of the capacitor decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Shinya Ishikawa, Yasufumi Ogasawara, Hisao Okita, Takashi Sakai, Toru Oshika
  • Publication number: 20160347097
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a power source unit configured to supply electric power to an electric load, a capacitor connected to a power supply line extending from the power supply unit to the electric load, a charge circuit configured to charge the capacitor while restricting a current value of the electric power supplied from the power source unit, a specifying unit configured to specify a voltage value of the capacitor, a first determination unit configured to determine whether the charge of the capacitor is completed in accordance with the voltage specified by the specifying unit, and a second determination unit configured to determine whether the voltage specified by the specifying unit is equal to or smaller than an error threshold value after the first determination unit determines that the charge of the capacitor is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Yasufumi Ogasawara, Takashi Sakai, Hisao Okita, Shinya Ishikawa, Toru Oshika
  • Patent number: 9481556
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a vehicle body and a battery pack, which is placed in the vehicle body. The battery pack includes a counterweight and at least one battery cell, which partially contacts the counterweight. The battery pack is arranged in the vehicle body such that a contact portion of the counterweight that contacts the at least one battery cell exchanges heat with relative wind by a greater amount than a non-contact portion of the at least one battery cell that have no contact with the counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi Oishi, Takahisa Sugimoto, Shintaro Watanabe, Takashi Sakai, Hiromi Ueda, Naoto Morisaku, Kazuki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20160064716
    Abstract: This battery module is provided with: a cell having a connection terminal; and a bus bar that is connected to the connection terminal and has an upright standing part that extends in the direction in which the connection terminal protrudes. The bus bar is connected, via a conductive wire, to an object to be connected, which is provided at a position separate from the connection terminal in the extending direction of the upright standing part. The cell is configured so as to be charged and discharged through the bus bar and the conductive wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi SAKAI, Takayuki KATO, Shintaro WATANABE, Hidefumi OISHI, Hiromi UEDA, Naoto MORISAKU, Kazuki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20160049702
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery module including a plurality of cells, a housing that accommodates the battery module and is thermally coupled to the battery module, and a temperature adjuster that is thermally coupled and attached to the housing. The temperature adjuster changes a temperature of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi OISHI, Takayuki KATO, Hirohisa KATO, Hiromi UEDA, Fumihiko ISHIGURO, Naoto MORISAKU, Kazuki MAEDA, Takashi SAKAI, Shintaro WATANABE, Atsushi YAMAGUCHI, Yuki CHUJO
  • Publication number: 20150372265
    Abstract: A battery module has a plurality of battery bodies. Each of the battery bodies is constituted by a battery holder and a battery cell held by the battery holder and also has two connecting terminals of different polarities. The battery bodies are arranged side by side. The connecting terminals of adjacent battery bodies are connected to each other by a bus bar, and the battery bodies are thereby connected in series. Each battery holder has an indicator that prevents the bus bars from being connected to a part located between bus bars that are adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the battery bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Naoto MORISAKU, Takayuki KATO, Katsumasa KOBAYASHI, Hiromi UEDA, Shintaro WATANABE, Hidefumi OISHI, Takashi SAKAI, Kazuki MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20150364786
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery assembly having battery structures arranged side by side, the battery structures each having a battery body and a battery holder, and a pressure application member. Each battery holder has a first surface, a second surface, a projecting portion, which projects from the first surface and has a distal end face, and a receptacle portion recessed in the second surface. The projecting portion of each battery holder is inserted into the receptacle portion of the adjacent battery holder in a state in which the distal end face is free of contact with the adjacent battery holder. Each battery body contacts the adjacent battery body such that at least one of the first and second surfaces of the battery holder, which holds a battery body, is free from contact with the adjacent battery holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kazuki MAEDA, Takayuki KATO, Shintaro WATANABE, Hidefumi OISHI, Takashi SAKAI, Hiromi UEDA, Naoto MORISAKU