Citizen Watch Company, Ltd.

Toshikazu Hatsuse

Sosaku Kimura

Akira Kanai

Masakazu Miyashita

Naoki Fujii

Toshiaki Wada

Kazunari Kume

Junichi Nakaoka

Shigehiro Fuwa

Isao Koyama

Sadao Ode

Mitsuyoshi Nagashima

Takeshi Okabe

Masami Shimizu

Koichi Koizumi

Junichi Yoshioka

Masaru Ito

Hiroshi Shiina

An arrangement for mechanically processing a workpiece having a position detecting pattern or patterns formed thereon has a mechanically processing tool disposed at a predetermined position, a worktable arranged so as to be linearly moved in at least one of the rectangular coordinate X- and Y-axes while holding the workpiece thereon, and a position aligning unit provided with an opto-electric line sensor capable of detecting one of the patterns of the workpiece and issuing pattern detected signals, and an operation/control unit capable of mathematically processing the detected signals from the line sensor to determine a position of the workpiece to be mechanically processed and generating control signals for controlling the movement of the worktable so that the position to be mechanically processed is aligned with the position of the mechanically processing tool. The line sensor may be a CCD type line sensor.

Arrangement for mechanically and accurately processing a workpiece with

A rotary table unit having a stationary base element and a table element rotatably mounted on the stationary base element is provided with hydrostatic and hydrodynamic bearing guides forming a composite bearing guide mechanism for enabling smooth and stable rotation of the table element under application of local load to the table element. The rotary table unit is also provided with a main drive motor for rotating the table element and an auxiliary drive motor for supplementing a drive force of the main drive motor in response to a change in load applied to the table element.

Rotary table unit

A direct-acting table mechanism in which tables are driven without any contact by use of a hydrostatic fluid for thrust-transmitting the tables in their sliding direction. The tables are hydrostatically supported on hydrostatic guides on a bed, and differential pressures are supplied to the hydrostatically supporting portions to control the attitude of the tables. This table mechanism is of high degree of accuracy uninfluenced by errors in the feed screw system, high rigidity and thus permits highly stable fine feed.

Table mechanism for controlling table attitude

A table mechanism comprising two hydrostatically coupled tables, a main table and an auxiliary table, in which after clamping the main table, the gaps in the hydrostatically coupling portions of the tables are adjusted so as to position the auxiliary table precisely.

Table mechanism

A vacuum suction device comprises a vacuum suction plate formed by baking a porous material and having a flat suction face for holding a workpiece by suction; a base abutting on a bottom of the vacuum suction plate for supporting the vacuum suction plate and having a plurality of suction grooves in a part of a surface of the base abutting on the bottom of the suction plate, the suction grooves being coupled to a pipe of the base; an intake device coupled to the pipe of the base; a peripheral member formed of an airtight material for encircling the suction plate; and means for preventing a grinding liquid from getting into the vacuum suction device through the suction grooves. The preventing means prevents reduction in suction force applied by the intake device acting on the workpiece.

Vacuum suction device

A hydrostatic pressure XY table comprising first and second sliding tables mounted on a bed. The two sliding tables are driven perpendicularly to each other by separate motors through a first lead screw supported on the bed and a second lead screw supported on the first sliding table. The bed has a first trapezoidal groove and the first sliding table has a second trapezoidal groove running perpendicular to the first trapezoidal groove. The first sliding table is engaged with the first trapezoidal groove and the second sliding table is engaged with the second trapezoidal groove. Four hydrostatic pressure guides are provided in the bed, to engage with engaging surfaces of the first sliding table. Four hydrostatic pressure guides are also provided in the first sliding table to engage with engaging surfaces of the second sliding table. A plurality of fluid pressure lines are provided for supplying hydrostatic pressure to the engaging surfaces of the first and second sliding tables. A hydrostatic pressure feed mechanism consisting of a lead screw, a nut and a fluid pressure line for supplying hydrostatic pressure through the nut to opposite screw faces of the lead screw is provided for each sliding table. By use of the hydrostatic pressure XY table it is possible to carry out machining operations in which close dimensional tolerances must be observed as in the grinding of magnetic disk heads and the grinding and polishing of plastic shaping dies.

Hydrostatic pressure XY table

A clasp for an ornament including a clasp body connected to one end of the ornament, and an engaging member connected to the other end of the ornament. The engaging member is adapted to be lockingly secured in the clasp body. The clasp body is divided into a housing and a cover having an ornamental portion such as a letter, mark and pattern, for ease of replacement of the cover.

Clasp for ornaments

A small electronic timer comprises a circuit arrangement including a time unit pulse generating circuit for generating a time unit pulse, a time counter for counting the time unit pulse, a data memory circuit, a coincidence detecting circuit for comparing data stored in the data memory circuit and data of the time counter and producing a coincidence signal, and a control circuit operated by the coincidence signal; a sound emitting means driven by the control circuit; a time setting means for feeding a set time to the data memory circuit; and a first housing and a second housing for accommodating the circuit arrangement, sound emitting means and time setting means. The first and second housings permits their relative position to be changed, and by changing it, the time setting means is operated and the timer is set.

Small electronic timers

This chain printer has a type chain which includes an endless flexible belt capable of installing numerous type slugs. Each print slug includes a printing portion containing at least one type character and a pair of cantilevers extending from the printing portion. The print slugs are changeably mounted onto the belt by means of a U-shaped spring which permits a better printing performance and a simplified type-changing process.

Growing community of inventors

Tanashi, Japan

Toshikazu Hatsuse