Patents by Inventor Akira Aono

Akira Aono 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).

  • Publication number: 20240102918
    Abstract: An accuracy management method for executing accuracy management by using an accuracy management substance in a measurement device that measures a biological specimen includes: reading management information regarding the accuracy management substance from an information recording medium; selecting a treatment adapted to the read management information; executing the selected treatment; and updating the management information in the information recording medium according to the executed treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira SEZAKI, Hajime FUKUMARU, Takafumi AONO
  • Publication number: 20230408460
    Abstract: Provided is a sample container and a gas chromatograph capable of detecting the pressure in the flow path for supplying a pressurized gas into a flow path. The ample supply device includes and insertion tube, a pressurized gas supply unit, a valve, and a pressure sensor. The pressurized gas supply unit is connected to the insertion tube via the flow path. The valve opens and closes the flow path. The pressure sensor senses the pressure between the valve and the insertion tube in the flow path. In the sample supply device, the pressure in the flow path connecting the pressurized gas supply unit and the insertion tube is detected, based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor in a state in which the valve is closed, and the insertion tube is inserted into the space in the sample container, before supplying a pressurized gas by a pressurized gas supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshitake YAMAMOTO, Akira AONO
  • Patent number: 11499947
    Abstract: A sample introduction device 10 includes a tube holding section 21 and a sample removing mechanism 40. The sample removing mechanism 40 removes a sample 6 in a sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21. Thus, in the sample introduction device 10, the sample 6 in the sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21 can be automatically removed. As a result, the operator no longer needs to perform an operation of taking out the sample 6 from the sample tube 2. Thus, a work load on the operator can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Sawamura, Akira Aono
  • Publication number: 20220326195
    Abstract: A switching mechanism 110 can perform switching to a pressurized state in which gas is supplied from a pipe 203 to an insertion tube 101, or a derivation state in which gas in a head space 23 that is pressurized is derived from the insertion tube 101 to the pipe 207 via a collection unit 104. The switching mechanism 110 includes a discharge valve 103 that puts the insertion tube 101 and the pipe 207 into a non-communication state in the pressurized state and puts the insertion tube 101 and the pipe 207 into a communication state in the derivation state. A resistance pipe 206 supplies gas to a channel between the collection unit 104 and the discharge valve 103 in the derivation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira AONO, Shota HATA, Naru MARUOKA, Hideki SATO
  • Publication number: 20210333246
    Abstract: A sample introduction device 10 includes a tube holding section 21 and a sample removing mechanism 40. The sample removing mechanism 40 removes a sample 6 in a sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21. Thus, in the sample introduction device 10, the sample 6 in the sample tube 2 held by the tube holding section 21 can be automatically removed. As a result, the operator no longer needs to perform an operation of taking out the sample 6 from the sample tube 2. Thus, a work load on the operator can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao SAWAMURA, Akira AONO
  • Patent number: 10955389
    Abstract: A sample introduction device 100 includes a heating unit 102, an ultraviolet irradiation unit 103, and a sample supply part 106. The heating unit 102 vaporizes a sample 22 by heating externally a container 2 in which the sample 22 is enclosed. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 103 causes ultraviolet rays to pass through the container 2 and irradiates the sample 22 with the ultraviolet rays. The sample supply part 106 supplies the sample vaporized in the container 2 to a gas chromatograph 1 side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Aono, Isao Sawamura
  • Patent number: 10852218
    Abstract: A sample introduction device includes a tube holding unit 10, a tube heating unit 20, and a movement mechanism 30. The tube holding unit 10 holds a sample tube 1. The tube heating unit 20 comes into contact with the sample tube 1 held in the tube holding unit 10 and heats the sample tube 1 to desorb sample components in the sample tube 1. The tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20 are attached to the movement mechanism 30 so as to be able to move separately. The movement mechanism 30 includes a nut 32 which can be attached to and detached from the tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20, and a support shaft 31 which supports the nut 32 such that the nut 32 can move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Aono, Isao Sawamura
  • Patent number: 10712246
    Abstract: A carrier gas flow path of at least from a trap to an analyzing portion is shared between a state wherein a sample component is trapped within the trap and a state wherein the sample component is not trapped within the trap. In this case, even after the sample has been introduced into the analyzing portion through the carrier gas flow path, there is a time interval over which the carrier gas flows within the carrier gas flow path. This makes it possible, through the carrier gas that flows within the carrier gas flow path afterward, to remove the sample component from within the flow path, despite there being a sample component within the carrier gas flow path at the time of sample introduction, thus making it possible to prevent the sample component from remaining within the flow path after sample introduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Patent number: 10281445
    Abstract: A headspace sampler includes: a sample gas collection channel whose one end communicates with a needle; a pressure gas introduction channel and an exhaust channel that communicate with the other end of the channel in parallel via a branching pipe; a pressure control device that delivers pressure gas to the pressure gas introduction channel at a predetermined pressure; solenoid valves provided in the pressure gas introduction channel and the exhaust channel, respectively; and switching means for switching a state where a measuring pipe is inserted in the sample gas collection channel and a state where the measuring pipe is shorted away from the channel, wherein a pressure sensor is provided on an upstream side of the solenoid valve in the exhaust channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Aono, Yoshitake Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20190041367
    Abstract: A sample introduction device 100 includes a heating unit 102, an ultraviolet irradiation unit 103, and a sample supply part 106. The heating unit 102 vaporizes a sample 22 by heating externally a container 2 in which the sample 22 is enclosed. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 103 causes ultraviolet rays to pass through the container 2 and irradiates the sample 22 with the ultraviolet rays. The sample supply part 106 supplies the sample vaporized in the container 2 to a gas chromatograph 1 side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira AONO, Isao SAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180356316
    Abstract: A sample introduction device includes a tube holding unit 10, a tube heating unit 20, and a movement mechanism 30. The tube holding unit 10 holds a sample tube 1. The tube heating unit 20 comes into contact with the sample tube 1 held in the tube holding unit 10 and heats the sample tube 1 to desorb sample components in the sample tube 1. The tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20 are attached to the movement mechanism 30 so as to be able to move separately. The movement mechanism 30 includes a nut 32 which can be attached to and detached from the tube holding unit 10 and the tube heating unit 20, and a support shaft 31 which supports the nut 32 such that the nut 32 can move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira AONO, Isao SAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 10119926
    Abstract: A heat retention start timing of each sample container is determined based on a room temperature detected by a room temperature sensor, and a starting temperature and an ending temperature of each sample at a time of programmed temperature analysis that are stored in an analysis condition storage section. Since cooling speed of each sample container varies depending on the room temperature, the cooling time (A12, B12, C12, . . . ) of each sample container may be predicted based on the ending temperature of each sample at the time of programmed temperature analysis, the starting temperature of a next sample at the time of the programmed temperature analysis, and the room temperature. By determining the heat retention start timing of each sample container according to the cooling time (A12, B12, C12, . . . ) of each sample container predicted in the above manner, a margin time (A13, B13, C13, . . . ) after the cooling time may be prevented from becoming unnecessarily long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Patent number: 9915634
    Abstract: A pressurization passage that divides a constant pressure from a pressure source with passage resistances so as to have a predetermined constant pressure is disposed on a downstream side of a sample loop in order to maintain a back pressure of the sample loop constant when a sample gas is collected to the sample loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Publication number: 20170315025
    Abstract: A carrier gas flow path of at least from a trap to an analyzing portion is shared between a state wherein a sample component is trapped within the trap and a state wherein the sample component is not trapped within the trap. In this case, even after the sample has been introduced into the analyzing portion through the carrier gas flow path, there is a time interval over which the carrier gas flows within the carrier gas flow path. This makes it possible, through the carrier gas that flows within the carrier gas flow path afterward, to remove the sample component from within the flow path, despite there being a sample component within the carrier gas flow path at the time of sample introduction, thus making it possible to prevent the sample component from remaining within the flow path after sample introduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira AONO
  • Patent number: 9588088
    Abstract: In a gas sample analysis device including a metering tube, sample gas supply channel, carrier gas supply channel, evacuation channel and collection tube, there is provided a first channel switching valve which switches between a load state in which the metering tube is interposed between said sample gas supply channel and the evacuation channel and an injection state in which the metering tube is interposed between the sample gas supply channel and gas analysis device; and a second channel switching valve which, in the load state or injection state, switches between a collection tube interposition state in which the collection tube is interposed between the sample gas supply channel and the metering tube or between the metering tube and the gas analysis device, and a collection tube shunt state in which the collection tube is not interposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Publication number: 20160252472
    Abstract: A heat retention start timing of each sample container is determined based on a room temperature detected by a room temperature sensor, and a starting temperature and an ending temperature of each sample at a time of programmed temperature analysis that are stored in an analysis condition storage section. Since cooling speed of each sample container varies depending on the room temperature, the cooling time (A12, B12, C12, . . . ) of each sample container may be predicted based on the ending temperature of each sample at the time of programmed temperature analysis, the starting temperature of a next sample at the time of the programmed temperature analysis, and the room temperature. By determining the heat retention start timing of each sample container according to the cooling time (A12, B12, C12, . . . ) of each sample container predicted in the above manner, a margin time (A13, B13, C13, . . . ) after the cooling time may be prevented from becoming unnecessarily long.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira AONO
  • Patent number: 9347919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for rapidly extracting the analyte existing in the liquid phase in analyzing an analyte “having a large partition coefficient in gas-liquid equilibrium”, “having a high water solubility”, or “having a low olfactory threshold” by a gas-liquid contact extraction method, and further provides, a method and apparatus for unmanned continuous sample introduction of the analyte to a GC or the like for a long time. In the present invention, using a gas-liquid contact extractor to which a sample liquid is continuously introduced from above and a purge gas from beneath, the analyte in the sample liquid is extracted by gas-liquid contact between the sample liquid and the purge gas. A discharge pipe is connected to the bottom of the gas-liquid contact extractor, the pipe having a liquid sump through which the sample liquid is discharged, while blocking the outflow of the purge gas from the liquid sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, GL Sciences Incorporated
    Inventors: Shinji Fukumoto, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Akira Aono, Manabu Shimomura, Yoshiyuki Takei, Tadashi Mimura, Akira Suzuki, Masahiro Furuno
  • Patent number: 9274030
    Abstract: A sample introduction device having a channel configuration which allows recapture of samples and in which thorough purging is performed so that no sample components remain inside the channel. In the trap capture process, a first six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-f, b-c and d-e are connected, a second six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-b, c-d and e-f are connected, and an electromagnetic valve is opened. Carrier gas is introduced through a carrier gas channel, and is discharged via the first six-way valve-sample channel-second six-way switching valve-trap channel-second six-way switching valve-channel-first six-way valve-discharge channel. Carrier gas is also introduced through the path going through the electronic control flow controller, so the operation of stabilization of the analysis channel continues to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Publication number: 20150233874
    Abstract: A pressurization passage that divides a constant pressure from a pressure source with passage resistances so as to have a predetermined constant pressure is disposed on a downstream side of a sample loop in order to maintain a back pressure of the sample loop constant when a sample gas is collected to the sample loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Aono
  • Publication number: 20150219532
    Abstract: A sample introduction device having a channel configuration which allows recapture of samples and in which thorough purging is performed so that no sample components remain inside the channel. In the trap capture process, a first six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-f, b-c and d-e are connected, a second six-way switching valve is placed in state where ports a-b, c-d and e-f are connected, and an electromagnetic valve is opened. Carrier gas is introduced through a carrier gas channel, and is discharged via the first six-way valve-sample channel-second six-way switching valve-trap channel-second six-way switching valve-channel-first six-way valve-discharge channel. Carrier gas is also introduced through the path going through the electronic control flow controller, so the operation of stabilization of the analysis channel continues to be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira AONO