Patents by Inventor Akihiro Tanji

Akihiro Tanji 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: 10663477
    Abstract: An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Publication number: 20180067139
    Abstract: An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Patent number: 9846169
    Abstract: An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Patent number: 9753046
    Abstract: A system and method for locating sample vessels are presented. The system comprises a holder having an array of positions for holding sample vessels. An information tag is attached to the holder for storing and/or retrieving machine-readable information related to the positions of sample vessels with respect to the array of positions. The system further comprises a handheld device capable of reading information on the information tag. The handheld device has an input for inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel and an output for outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel with respect to the array of positions based on information stored in the information tag. The method comprises inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel into the handheld device, reading information stored in the holder's information tag with the handheld device; and outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Publication number: 20150260744
    Abstract: A system and method for locating sample vessels are presented. The system comprises a holder having an array of positions for holding sample vessels. An information tag is attached to the holder for storing and/or retrieving machine-readable information related to the positions of sample vessels with respect to the array of positions. The system further comprises a handheld device capable of reading information on the information tag. The handheld device has an input for inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel and an output for outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel with respect to the array of positions based on information stored in the information tag. The method comprises inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel into the handheld device, reading information stored in the holder's information tag with the handheld device; and outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Patent number: 9076120
    Abstract: A system and method for locating sample vessels are presented. The system comprises a holder having an array of positions for holding sample vessels. An information tag is attached to the holder for storing and/or retrieving machine-readable information related to the positions of sample vessels with respect to the array of positions. The system further comprises a handheld device capable of reading information on the information tag. The handheld device has an input for inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel and an output for outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel with respect to the array of positions based on information stored in the information tag. The method comprises inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel into the handheld device, reading information stored in the holder's information tag with the handheld device; and outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Publication number: 20140110480
    Abstract: A system and method for locating sample vessels are presented. The system comprises a holder having an array of positions for holding sample vessels. An information tag is attached to the holder for storing and/or retrieving machine-readable information related to the positions of sample vessels with respect to the array of positions. The system further comprises a handheld device capable of reading information on the information tag. The handheld device has an input for inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel and an output for outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel with respect to the array of positions based on information stored in the information tag. The method comprises inputting information related to a to-be-located sample vessel into the handheld device, reading information stored in the holder's information tag with the handheld device; and outputting a position of the to-be-located sample vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji
  • Publication number: 20140109527
    Abstract: An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Burri, Andreas Eberhart, Akihiro Tanji