Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Fukano

Yoshihiro Fukano 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).

  • ELECTRIC ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20090140586
    Abstract: In an electric actuator, a first bore portion in which a driving section is accommodated, and a second bore portion that extends in parallel with the first bore portion and in which a feed screw of a drive force transmission mechanism is inserted, are provided in the interior of an elongate body. Further, a rotary drive source of the driving section and the feed screw are connected through the drive force transmission mechanism. In addition, a drive force of the rotary drive source is transmitted to the feed screw through the drive force transmission mechanism for displacing a slider disposed on an upper portion of the body along an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Ryuichi Masui
  • DRIVE MECHANISM AND GRIPPER MECHANISM EQUIPPED WITH DRIVE MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20090133524
    Abstract: A drive mechanism and a gripper mechanism equipped with the drive mechanism are provided. An electrical gripper includes a drive mechanism equipped with a motor, a feed screw that transmits a rotary drive force from the motor to a feed nut capable of displacement in an axial direction, and a gripper section that grips a workpiece by coupling to the feed nut and being displaced thereby. The drive mechanism further is constituted by a self-locking mechanism, which prevents the feed nut from being retracted as a result of a reactive force received in the event that the feed nut is advanced and the workpiece is gripped by the gripper section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Shoichi Makado
  • SERVO MOTOR
    Publication number: 20090121590
    Abstract: A servo motor is equipped with a rotary shaft, a rotor rotated integrally with the rotary shaft, a stator that is separated a predetermined distance from and disposed in confronting relation to the rotor, and an angle detecting device that detects an angle of rotation of the rotary shaft. On a counter-load side end, which is opposite to a load side end of the rotary shaft, an operating member is provided, which enables the rotary shaft to be rotated manually from an exterior location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Shoichi Makado
  • VACUUM GENERATING UNIT
    Publication number: 20090032125
    Abstract: An ejector functioning as a vacuum generating mechanism is disposed in a main body constituting a vacuum generating unit, and an atmospheric air introducing valve is disposed between the ejector and a vacuum port. The atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve closed state at times when a negative pressure is generated by the ejector under a condition in which a workpiece is held by the negative pressure generated by the ejector, whereby communication between the vacuum port and the atmosphere is blocked. On the other hand, at times when the vacuum is broken, in which the negative pressure state of the vacuum port is released, the atmospheric air introducing valve is brought into a valve open state, whereby the vacuum port communicates with the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masayuki Oshima
  • SOLENOID VALVE DRIVING CIRCUIT AND SOLENOID VALVE
    Publication number: 20090015979
    Abstract: A current detection circuit generates a pulse signal Sd based on a voltage Vd corresponding to a current I flowing through a solenoid coil, and feeds the pulse signal Sd back to a PWM circuit of a switch controller. The PWM circuit generates a pulse signal Sr having a predetermined duty ratio, based on a comparison between the fed back pulse signal Sd and a voltage value corresponding to a first current value or a second current value, and supplies the pulse signal Sr to a pulse supplying unit. The pulse supplying unit supplies the pulse signal Sr as a first pulse signal S1 and/or a second pulse signal S2 to a gate terminal G of a MOSFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Masami Yoshida, Yoshitada Doi, Shigeharu Oide
  • SOLENOID VALVE DRIVING CIRCUIT AND SOLENOID VALVE
    Publication number: 20090015980
    Abstract: A current detection circuit generates a pulse signal Sd based on a voltage Vd corresponding to a current I flowing through a solenoid coil, and feeds the pulse signal Sd back to a PWM circuit of a switch controller. The PWM circuit generates a pulse signal Sr having a predetermined duty ratio, based on a comparison between the fed back pulse signal Sd and a voltage value corresponding to a first current value or a second current value, and supplies the pulse signal Sr to a pulse supplying unit. The pulse supplying unit supplies the pulse signal Sr as a first pulse signal S1 and/or a second pulse signal S2 to a gate terminal G of a MOSFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Masami Yoshida, Yoshitada Doi, Shigeharu Oide
  • SOLENOID VALVE
    Publication number: 20080308758
    Abstract: A movable iron core unit includes a movable iron core, which is attracted toward a fixed iron core under excitation of a coil, and a guide member made from a resin material and mounted on an outer circumferential side of the movable iron core. The guide member is constructed from a pair of ring members and connecting members that interconnect the ring members. The ring members and the connecting members are mounted in mounting grooves, which are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the movable iron core, and project only slightly from the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro FUKANO, Masami YOSHIDA, Hideaki YASHIRO
  • Suck back valve
    Patent number: 7445163
    Abstract: A suck back valve comprises an ON/OFF valve, a suck back mechanism which includes a second piston connected to a second diaphragm to make displacement integrally and a second spring member fastened to the second piston, a load sensor which detects a load applied by a resilient force of the second spring member corresponding to a pressure of a pilot pressure to be supplied, and a second control unit which detects loads before and after displacement of the second diaphragm by using the load sensor to calculate a displacement amount of the second diaphragm based on a difference between the detected loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Solenoid-operated valve
    Patent number: 7445193
    Abstract: A valve seat section is formed on a valve body having first and second ports. A plate-like movable iron core is provided so that the movable iron core is capable of being seated on the valve seat section. Springs, which press the movable iron core toward the valve seat section, are provided between the movable iron core and a solenoid section. When the movable iron core is seated on the valve seat section, the movable iron core is pressed toward the valve seat section by the resilient forces of the springs in addition to the pressing force of the pressure fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Noriya Sasaki, Masato Hosoi
  • Vacuum Suction Apparatus
    Publication number: 20080150207
    Abstract: A switching valve is disposed between a pressure fluid supply source and an ejector in a vacuum suction apparatus. A supply port of the switching valve is connected to the pressure fluid supply source, and an outlet port of the switching valve is connected to the ejector. In addition, when suction pads attract a workpiece under suction and a negative pressure becomes constant, a valve body is displaced by a negative pressure supplied through a vacuum port to the switching valve, whereupon communication between the supply port and the outlet port is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Flow Amount Adjusting Valve
    Publication number: 20080149874
    Abstract: A flow amount adjusting valve includes a handle that enables an opening/closing amount of a valve plug to be adjusted. A piston connected to the valve plug is screw-engaged with a first axial portion of the handle. Additionally, along with displacement of the valve plug in the axial direction via the piston under a rotating action of the handle, an indicator element is accommodated in an interior portion of the handle. A first indicator undergoes screw-engagement with respect to the handle, and the indicator element is displaced together with displacement of the valve plug, such that displacement of the valve plug can be confirmed visually from outside the flow amount adjusting valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Flow rate-measuring apparatus
    Patent number: 7383741
    Abstract: A flow rate-measuring apparatus comprises a housing having a passage for supplying a liquid thereto, and a pair of detecting sections provided at both ends of the housing, and which contain sonic wave transmitter/receiver sections capable of transmitting and receiving sonic wave signals. Cover members are installed on each of the detecting sections, wherein the cover members face the passage in the housing. Curved surfaces, which expand toward the passage, are provided respectively on ends of the cover members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Manual Switching Valve
    Publication number: 20080078968
    Abstract: In a manual switching valve, which enables a valve plug to be opened and closed manually, a piston is threadedly engaged with a shaft that is inserted through a housing, wherein a handle having a switching mechanism therein is installed on an upper end of the shaft. After a valve plug is seated on a valve seat, any further turning force applied to the handle is interrupted without being transmitted to the shaft owing to the fact that balls disengage from tooth portions of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Tadashi Uchino
  • Pump apparatus
    Patent number: 7293967
    Abstract: A constant rate discharge pump comprises a rotary shaft which is rotatable together with a rotary driving source, a piston which is displaceable in an axial direction in a pump chamber of a body by the rotation of the rotary shaft and which has a tapered surface having diameters reduced downwardly on an outer circumference thereof, and a skirt section which is disposed on the piston and which extends radially outwardly. The constant rate discharge pump further includes a valve plug membrane of a resin material which is displaceable together with the piston, and a pressure sensor installed in the body which detects a pressure of a fluid flowing through the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Flow Rate-Measuring Apparatus
    Publication number: 20070227263
    Abstract: A flow rate-measuring apparatus comprises a housing having a passage for supplying a liquid thereto, and a pair of detecting sections provided at both ends of the housing, and which contain sonic wave transmitter/receiver sections capable of transmitting and receiving sonic wave signals. Cover members are installed on each of the detecting sections, wherein the cover members face the passage in the housing. Curved surfaces, which expand toward the passage, are provided respectively on ends of the cover members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takamitsu Suzuki
  • Electric actuator
    Patent number: D578147
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Ryuichi Masui, Masaru Saitoh, Hidemi Yamamoto, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Input apparatus of electrical actuator
    Patent number: D585387
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Takanori Kochi
  • Electric gripper
    Patent number: D588431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Electric gripper
    Patent number: D590686
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Shoichi Makado
  • Electric actuator
    Patent number: D596653
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Toru Sugiyama, Masaki Miyahara