Patents by Inventor Takatoshi Iwayama

Takatoshi Iwayama 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: 8051741
    Abstract: A managing structure for an umbilical member includes a flexible conduit for leading an umbilical member inserted therein from a front arm of a robot to a working tool mounted on a wrist of the robot, a first conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to the front arm, and a second conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to a point where the umbilical member is connected to the working tool. One end of the conduit is attached to the first conduit mounting portion, while the other end of the conduit is attached to the second conduit mounting portion. The conduit is laid so that a section thereof between the first conduit mounting portion and the second conduit mounting portion does not contact the body of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 8020466
    Abstract: An umbilical-member processing structure for an industrial robot which includes a forearm having a tool managing and relaying device and a wrist with proximal end rotatably connected to the forearm and having a work tool mounted on the distal end thereof, with an umbilical-member connected to the work tool being disposed to run along the wrist via the tool managing and relaying device: wherein the forearm has a first reduction gear which reduces the rotational speed of a driving source to drive the forearm in rotation; the first reduction gear having a first insertion hole for passing the umbilical-member therein; and wherein the wrist comprises a first wrist element having a through-path in communication with the first insertion hole and rotatably connected to the forearm, and a second wrist element having a second insertion hole in communication with the through-path and rotatably connected to the first wrist element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 7765890
    Abstract: An industrial robot has an arm, a wrist element rotatably interconnected to the arm, a work tool mounted on a distal end of the wrist element, and a motor mounted on the wrist element. An umbilical-member connected to the work tool and a flat cable connected to the motor are disposed to run along the wrist element from the arm side to the work tool or to the motor. A pipe member extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the wrist element is provided inside the arm and the umbilical-member connected to the work tool is passed inside the pipe member. The flat cable connected to the motor is wound around outside of the pipe member, with the flat cable arranged to become slack in a rotating direction of the wrist element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama, Junya Fujita
  • Patent number: 7703349
    Abstract: A cable laying structure for a robot, which does not interfere with external devices in a periphery of a forearm. Camera and hand control cables and motor control cables are drawn into a robot mechanism through a connection panel of a base of a robot main body. While allowing the motor control cables to sequentially diverge, the control cables are arranged in a robot arm along an upper arm portion and guided to the forearm. The control cables are introduced into the forearm with a shield and a sheath removed. After reaching an end effector-mounting face, the control cables are connected to a camera and a hand. The forearm is formed of conductive material and grounded on the base of the robot main body to have the same electric potential as the base by using an earth cable, and therefore the forearm is utilized in replacement of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Ryo Nihei, Toshihiko Inoue, Jun Ibayashi, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20100092273
    Abstract: A workpiece transfer robot system including a machine tool provided with a workpiece support section and a robot capable of transferring a workpiece relative to the workpiece support section of the machine tool. The machine tool includes a cover surrounding at least the workpiece support section. The cover includes a first side wall provided with a first opening usable for a workpiece transferring task of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Masaru ODA, Toru Shirahata, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama, Masaaki Uematsu, Kentarou Ootani
  • Publication number: 20100032420
    Abstract: An arc welding robot having a welding wire conduit which has a bend radius above a certain level and arranged so that disadvantageous stress is not applied to the conduit by the motion of the robot arm. A conduit for a welding wire is inserted through a hole of a robot pedestal from the rear side of the robot, is supported by a second support member arranged on the pedestal, extends near the front side of a rotating body of the robot, and is supported by a first support member on the upper part of the rotating body while having a required minimum bend radius. The conduit after passing through the first support member is introduced to the rear side of the upper arm and is connected to a connector at the rear side of a wire feeder while having the required minimum radius, whereby the conduit presents a generally S-shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20090200432
    Abstract: A managing structure for an umbilical member includes a flexible conduit for leading an umbilical member inserted therein from a front arm of a robot to a working tool mounted on a wrist of the robot, a first conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to the front arm, and a second conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to a point where the umbilical member is connected to the working tool. One end of the conduit is attached to the first conduit mounting portion, while the other end of the conduit is attached to the second conduit mounting portion. The conduit is laid so that a section thereof between the first conduit mounting portion and the second conduit mounting portion does not contact the body of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20090032649
    Abstract: An umbilical-member processing structure for an industrial robot which includes a forearm having a tool managing and relaying device and a wrist with proximal end rotatably connected to the forearm and having a work tool mounted on the distal end thereof, with an umbilical-member connected to the work tool being disposed to run along the wrist via the tool managing and relaying device: wherein the forearm has a first reduction gear which reduces the rotational speed of a driving source to drive the forearm in rotation; the first reduction gear having a first insertion hole for passing the umbilical-member therein; and wherein the wrist comprises a first wrist element having a through-path in communication with the first insertion hole and rotatably connected to the forearm, and a second wrist element having a second insertion hole in communication with the through-path and rotatably connected to the first wrist element; and wherein a conduit for passing the umbilical-member from one end to the other end is pr
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20080315820
    Abstract: An industrial robot having: an arm, a wrist element rotatably interconnected to the arm, a work tool mounted on a distal end of the wrist element, and a motor mounted on the wrist element; wherein an umbilical-member connected to the work tool and a flat cable connected to the motor are disposed to run along the wrist element from the arm side to aid work tool or to the motor, characterized in that a pipe member extending in a direction of a rotation axis of the wrist element is provided inside the arm, the umbilical-member connected to the work tool being passed inside the pipe member, the flat cable connected to the motor being wound around outside of the pipe member, with the flat cable slacked in a rotating direction of the wrist element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama, Junya Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080236324
    Abstract: In an umbilical member processing mechanism of a robot, a working tool managing unit umbilical member (50) for supplying at least one of the power, the signal and the material to a working tool managing unit (34), is guided from a rotary barrel in the longitudinal direction of an upper arm on a side face of the upper arm (14) located on the opposite side to the side attached to the rotary barrel (12) and then guided onto a front side (18b) of a front arm (18). Next, the working tool managing unit umbilical member (50) is connected to the working tool managing unit (34) through a side of the front arm located on the opposite side to the side on which the upper arm is attached. Further, the working tool managing unit umbilical member is connected to the working tool managing unit being relayed by an umbilical member junction portion (39) attached to a side or a front side of the front arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20080229861
    Abstract: A robot including a forearm section with a through passage, a wrist section articulated on the forearm section, and an umbilical member inserted through the through passage of the forearm section and provided along the wrist section. The robot includes a tool managing and relaying unit mounted on the forearm section close to the through passage and provided with a connection part to which the umbilical member is connected, and a mount mechanism carrying the tool managing and relaying unit movably between a first position where the connection part is disposed adjacent to an opening of the through passage and a second position where the connection part is spaced from the opening of the through passage, and releasably securing the tool managing and relaying unit to the forearm section at the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama, Tokitaka Uemura
  • Publication number: 20080056859
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for an industrial robot arm, having a simple drive system, in which an extracting part of an umbilical member for a work tool is suitably positioned and a device for the work tool is positioned on the forearm so as not to project out, while the basic configuration of the robot arm may be similar to the prior art. A motor for a first wrist element is positioned in the area between a forearm and an upper arm such that the rotation axis of the motor is perpendicular to a second axis. Further, the motor is positioned at the point shifted toward the wrist element or a front end of the forearm, in relation to a first axis, along the longitudinal direction of the forearm. Therefore, a wide area for a wire feeder may be obtained above a bottom portion of the forearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20080034920
    Abstract: A wrist driving structure for an industrial robot having: a first wrist element supported in cantilever fashion rotatably about a first axis; a second wrist element pivotally supported in cantilever fashion at a distal end side of the first wrist element with a proximal end as a supporting point about a second axis intersecting the first axis; a third wrist element supported in cantilever fashion at a distal end side of the second wrist element rotatably about a third axis intersecting the second axis; two driving motors provided in the first wrist element for driving the second wrist element and the third wrist element, respectively; and two gear sets for reducing a rotational speed of the two driving motors in predetermined reduction ratios. Each of the gear sets has a driving gear driven by one of the two driving motors and a driven ring gear which meshes with the driving gear. Two driven ring gears of the two gear sets are disposed coaxially with the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 7173213
    Abstract: A first wrist element is rotatably provided on the front end of a forearm base of a robot. A second wrist element is rotatably provided on the first wrist element. A welding torch is rotatably supported via a transmission mechanism. A wire feeder is disposed at a position other than a forearm. A torch cable is fitted to a slider with an intermediate fitting section. A slider can be pulled backward by returning a wire connected to a tension generator using a pulley. In place of the fitting section, an intermediate guiding section can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20070012672
    Abstract: An umbilical member handling structure for an industrial robot includes a first wrist element arranged rotatably at a forward end of a forearm, a second wrist element arranged rotatably at a forward end of the first wrist element, a working tool arranged at a forward end of the second wrist element, an umbilical member connected to the working tool and arranged along the first wrist element and the second wrist element, a flexible tabular guide member having a first end fixed on the second wrist element and a second end constituting a free end extended in a curve along the first wrist element and the second wrist element in the direction from the second element toward the first wrist element to guide the umbilical member between the first end and the second end, a displacement limiting member mounted at the second end of the flexible tabular guide member to limit the range of displacement of the second end, mainly in a thickness direction of the flexible tabular guide member, and an insertion member arranged
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko INOUE, Kazutaka NAKAYAMA, Takatoshi IWAYAMA, Tomoyuki MOTOKADO, Shunsuke ABIKO
  • Publication number: 20060278622
    Abstract: A positioner for arc welding having a few movable members and a simple structure, an arc welding robot system including the positioner and an arc welding robot, whereby the orientation of the workpiece corresponding to a welding site of the workpiece may be suitably changed by a minimum motion of the positioner. The positioner includes a pair of support members, a first member having two ends supported by the pair of support members such that the first member is rotatable about a first axis parallel to an installation surface of the positioner, a second member having two ends supported by a pair of supporting portions arranged on the first member such that the second member is rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a workpiece fixing part for fixing the workpiece to the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 7145100
    Abstract: A laser processing robot including a manipulator; a laser processing tool attached to the manipulator; an optical fiber for transmitting a laser beam to the laser processing tool; and a line passage formed inside the arm section to accommodate the optical fiber. The arm section includes a first member disposed fixedly about a first control axis and a second member supported on the first member rotatably about the first control axis. The line passage is formed continuously within the first and second members, an optical fiber inlet port thereof being provided in the first member and an optical fiber outlet port thereof being provided in the wrist portion. The laser processing tool includes an attachment section attached to the wrist portion rotatably about a second control axis perpendicular to the first control axis; a nozzle section extending from the attachment section and provided with a laser beam passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Ryo Nihei, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20060104790
    Abstract: A managing structure for an umbilical member includes a flexible conduit for leading an umbilical member inserted therein from a front arm of a robot to a working tool mounted on a wrist of the robot, a first conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to the front arm, and a second conduit mounting portion provided adjacent to a point where the umbilical member is connected to the working tool. One end of the conduit is attached to the first conduit mounting portion, while the other end of the conduit is attached to the second conduit mounting portion. The conduit is laid so that a section thereof between the first conduit mounting portion and the second conduit mounting portion does not contact the body of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FANUC LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20060101936
    Abstract: A managing structure, for an umbilical member for a work tool of a robot, capable of stabilizing the motion of the umbilical member during the operation of a wrist of the robot and making the work of modifying the system of the robot easier. The umbilical member is introduced into an opening formed at the back of a base of a forearm. The umbilical member extends through a hollow portion of a speed reducer and is drawn from a first opening formed on the side of a first wrist element. A cable for welding current and a tube for supplying shield gas, constituting the umbilical member, are directly connected to a welding torch rotatable about a third axis. A welding wire is guided and fed by a feed roller of a wire feeder and, then, is connected to the welding wire with the cable and the tube. The feed roller is driven by a motor contained within the first wrist element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20060104791
    Abstract: An umbilical member managing system for an industrial robot. The system is provided with a manipulator including a forearm having a first longitudinal axis, the forearm including a base, a first wrist member joined to the base rotatably about the first axis and a second wrist member joined to the first wrist member rotatably about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis; a working tool mounted to the second wrist member of the forearm of the manipulator; an umbilical member laid outside the forearm between the base and the second wrist member and connected to the working tool; an umbilical member guiding section provided in the forearm and including a guide passage extending generally parallel to the first axis to accommodate the umbilical member in a guidable manner; and an umbilical member retaining section provided in the second wrist member for retaining the umbilical member at a proper position relative to the working tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: FANUC LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Nihei, Toshihiko Inoue, Takatoshi Iwayama