The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.

Other

Kao Corporation

Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.

L. Engineering Co. Ltd.

Yamatake & Co., Ltd.

Noboru Sugimoto

Koichi Futsuhara

Masayoshi Sakai

Masao Mukaidono

Masatoshi Suzuki

Tsuyoshi Saito

Ritsuo Mihira

Souichi Kumekawa

Kazumi Narita

The present invention realizes a high-precision positioning with high stability, by fully utilizing a Bingham fluid characteristic possessed by an ERF (electro-rheological fluid). To this end, motion of a driving part is transmitted to a movable part via shearing stress of the ERF. Since the shearing stress can be variably controlled by adjusting an electric field to be applied to the ERF, the movable part can be moved to a target position by a predetermined output. When the movable part is to be stopped, the driving part is decelerated and stopped to thereby thermally dissipate an excessive kinetic energy of the movable part. By keeping on applying an electric field at the time of stopping, the movable part is exerted with an infinite apparent viscous stress by virtue of the Bingham fluid characteristic, to thereby suppress an influence of an external force. Further, by constituting a damping or braking part to include an ERF, it also becomes possible to render the shearing stress of ERF to act as a resisting force, thereby damping a motion of the movable part.

Method and apparatus for controlling machinery

Safety ensuring apparatus

A safety apparatus wherein a sensor (10.sub.n through 15.sub.n, 16) for transmitting object (M) detection information as a reduction in the output signal energy, is used as a human detection sensor, while a sensor (21-26) for transmitting object (M) detection information as an increase in the output signal energy is used as a work piece detection sensor, and drive of a mechanical moving portion is permitted only when the logical OR output of both sensors has a logical value of '1' corresponding to the high energy condition, thereby reliably ensuring excellent operator safety in a fail-safe manner.

Safety apparatus determining whether a detected presence is a work piece

A method for assuring a safe work space operates so that a work enable signal is generated only when absence of workers from the work space where the workers work in cooperation with a machine is detected. The work enable signal has a logical value of 1 corresponding to a high energy state and only this signal can initiate activation of the machine sharing the subject work space thereby assuring safe environments for workers.

Method and apparatus for assuring safe work

The present invention is to provide a fail-safe slide operation control device for a press of simple structure when the electronic circuit by fail-safe signal processing as a circuit for monitoring overrun and confirming the OFF condition of an operation button, which is important function to control the slide, is used instead of a contact circuit composed of relays.

Slide operation control device for a press

Growing community of inventors

Koganei, Japan

Noboru Sugimoto