Patents by Inventor Junichi Kitano

Junichi Kitano 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: 20230365394
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply system with which it is possible to perform quality control of a liquid provided by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicants: Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI, Takashi NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20230331538
    Abstract: There are provided a liquid supply system and a liquid loss reduction method capable of reducing a liquid loss caused when a liquid storage container is replaced. A liquid supply system (101) that transfers a liquid in a storage container (10) through a supply pipe (30), and dispenses the liquid from a dispensing outlet in a dispensing device (50). The liquid supply system includes a spout prevention unit (110) that is installed in the supply pipe, has a predetermined internal volume, and prevents a pressurized gas from being spouted from the dispensing outlet, a liquid-absence detection device (120) that is installed between the storage container and the spout prevention unit, and detects absence of the liquid in the storage container, and a control device (130) that is electrically connected to the liquid-absence detection device, and gives instructions for closing a flow path in the dispensing device in response to the detection of the absence of the liquid in the storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicants: Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI, Takashi NISHIO
  • Patent number: 11718515
    Abstract: A liquid sales management device is to be added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device through a supply pipe with the liquid pressurized in order to cool the liquid in the dispensing device, and dispensing the cooled liquid to a drinking container. The liquid sales management device includes an actual flow rate determining unit that determines an actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container from the dispensing device, a cleaning mode detection unit that detects a cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and a consumption flow rate acquisition unit that determines an actual consumption of the liquid based on the number of cycles of the cleaning mode, a known liquid amount consumed in one cycle of the cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and the actual measured flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: ASAHI GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD., ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamashita, Junichi Kitano, Takashi Wada, Kenji Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 11498825
    Abstract: A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid in a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid and dispensing the liquid into a drinking container includes: a dispensing sensor; and a control device electrically connected to the dispensing sensor and configured to perform control operation of at least one of a refrigeration machine and a stirring device provided in the dispensing device at the same time when dispensing of the liquid is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: ASAHI GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD., ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamashita, Junichi Kitano, Yasuhiro Kurabe, Shinsuke Mitsuhata, Takashi Wada, Kenji Kusunoki, Hidetoshi Fukunari, Takuya Komura
  • Patent number: 11430675
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing tank, a reservoir, a remover, a mixer, and a return path. Etching is performed on a substrate in the processing tank by immersing the substrate in a processing liquid containing a chemical liquid and silicon. The reservoir recovers and stores the processing liquid discharged from the processing tank. The remover recovers a portion of the processing liquid discharged from the processing tank, and removes silicon from the recovered processing liquid. The mixer mixes the processing liquid stored in the reservoir with the processing liquid from which silicon has been removed by the remover. The processing liquid mixed by the mixer is returned to the processing tank through a return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideaki Sato, Junichi Kitano, Kouzou Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 11410861
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing tub 34 which is configured to store therein a processing liquid and in which a processing of a substrate is performed by immersing the substrate in the stored processing liquid; a circulation line 50 connected to the processing tub; a pump 51 provided at the circulation line and configured to generate a flow of the processing liquid flowing out from the processing tub and returning back to the processing tub after passing through the circulation line; and a heater 52 provided at the circulation line and configured to heat the processing liquid. At least two temperature sensors 81 to 83 are provided at different positions within a circulation system including the processing tub and the circulation line. Controllers 90 and 100 control a heat generation amount of the heater based on detection temperatures of the at least two temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Nagai, Hideaki Sato, Junichi Kitano, Kenji Goto
  • Publication number: 20220152780
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a cassette block configured to mount a cassette that accommodates a substrate; a processing block configured to process the substrate; a relay block configured to relay the substrate between the cassette block and the processing block; and a controller. The processing block includes a processing module that performs a removal process of removing a part of the substrate. The relay block includes a weight measuring unit that measures a weight of the substrate before or after being processed by the processing block. The controller includes a removal amount determination unit that calculates a weight difference of the substrate before and after being processed by the processing block using the measurement result of the weight measuring unit and determines whether a removal amount by the removal process is within a permissible range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yuichi DOUKI, Kouzou KANAGAWA, Junichi KITANO
  • Patent number: 11332357
    Abstract: A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system which can supply a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid, and can dispense the liquid to a drinking container. The liquid quality management device includes an actual flow rate preparation unit including a flow rate sensor for determining an actual measured flow rate of the liquid; a dispensing liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container; and a determination unit electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor, for determining an integrated flow rate of the liquid when the liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a set temperature, and for determining whether or not coolability of the dispensing device is suitable by comparing the integrated flow rate with a determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: ASAHI GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD., ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamashita, Junichi Kitano, Takashi Wada, Kenji Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20210009401
    Abstract: A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid in a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid and dispensing the liquid into a drinking container includes: a dispensing sensor; and a control device electrically connected to the dispensing sensor and configured to perform control operation of at least one of a refrigeration machine and a stirring device provided in the dispensing device at the same time when dispensing of the liquid is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Yasuhiro KURABE, Shinsuke MITSUHATA, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI, Hidetoshi FUKUNARI, Takuya KOMURA
  • Publication number: 20200391990
    Abstract: A liquid quality management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system which can supply a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device in order to cool the liquid, and can dispense the liquid to a drinking container. The liquid quality management device includes an actual flow rate preparation unit including a flow rate sensor for determining an actual measured flow rate of the liquid; a dispensing liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container; and a determination unit electrically connected to the actual flow rate preparation unit and the dispensing liquid temperature sensor, for determining an integrated flow rate of the liquid when the liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a set temperature, and for determining whether or not coolability of the dispensing device is suitable by comparing the integrated flow rate with a determination value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI
  • Publication number: 20200339408
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid sales management device capable of being added to a liquid supply system, the liquid supply system supplying a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device through a supply pipe with the liquid pressurized in order to cool the liquid in the dispensing device, and dispensing the cooled liquid to a drinking container. The liquid sales management device includes an actual flow rate determining unit that determines a actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container from the dispensing device, a cleaning mode detection unit that detects a cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and a consumption flow rate acquisition unit that determines an actual consumption of the liquid with the number of times of the cleaning mode, a known liquid amount consumed with one operation of the cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and the actual measured flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI
  • Publication number: 20200334606
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid sales management system that includes a liquid supply system and a sales information management system in a store, and a management server that performs information communication with the liquid supply system and the sales information management system. The liquid supply system includes a dispensing device that dispenses a liquid to a drinking container, an actual flow rate preparation part that determines an actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container from the dispensing device, and a transmission and reception part. The sales information management system is a system that sends sales information to a communication line. The management server includes a consumption analysis part that determines a difference between an apparent liquid amount and the actual measured flow rate, as a non-sale amount of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Naoyuki YAMASHITA, Junichi KITANO, Takashi WADA, Kenji KUSUNOKI
  • Publication number: 20190385869
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing tank, a reservoir, a remover, a mixer, and a return path. Etching is performed on a substrate in the processing tank by immersing the substrate in a processing liquid containing a chemical liquid and silicon. The reservoir recovers and stores the processing liquid discharged from the processing tank. The remover recovers a portion of the processing liquid discharged from the processing tank, and removes silicon from the recovered processing liquid. The mixer mixes the processing liquid stored in the reservoir with the processing liquid from which silicon has been removed by the remover. The processing liquid mixed by the mixer is returned to the processing tank through a return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Hideaki Sato, Junichi Kitano, Kouzou Kanagawa
  • Publication number: 20180233384
    Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing tub 34 which is configured to store therein a processing liquid and in which a processing of a substrate is performed by immersing the substrate in the stored processing liquid; a circulation line 50 connected to the processing tub; a pump 51 provided at the circulation line and configured to generate a flow of the processing liquid flowing out from the processing tub and returning back to the processing tub after passing through the circulation line; and a heater 52 provided at the circulation line and configured to heat the processing liquid. At least two temperature sensors 81 to 83 are provided at different positions within a circulation system including the processing tub and the circulation line. Controllers 90 and 100 control a heat generation amount of the heater based on detection temperatures of the at least two temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Takashi Nagai, Hideaki Sato, Junichi Kitano, Kenji Goto
  • Patent number: 10026629
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus. The apparatus includes: a pure water supply unit (a rinse liquid supply unit) configured to supply pure water to a substrate; and a drying liquid supply unit configured to supply a drying liquid having a higher volatility than the pure water to the substrate. The substrate liquid processing apparatus is used to supply the drying liquid having the higher volatility, of which a part contains a silicon-based organic compound, to the substrate, from the drying liquid supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mitsunori Nakamori, Junichi Kitano, Teruomi Minami
  • Publication number: 20160111303
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate liquid processing apparatus. The apparatus includes: a pure water supply unit (a rinse liquid supply unit) configured to supply pure water to a substrate; and a drying liquid supply unit configured to supply a drying liquid having a higher volatility than the pure water to the substrate. The substrate liquid processing apparatus is used to supply the drying liquid having the higher volatility, of which a part contains a silicon-based organic compound, to the substrate, from the drying liquid supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mitsunori Nakamori, Junichi Kitano, Teruomi Minami
  • Patent number: 9272894
    Abstract: Easily serviced and hygienically maintained liquid supply system. A liquid storage vessel switching device switches between vessels to supply liquid uninterruptedly. Provided in a first connection tube is a liquid cutoff device, including a loop section, for switching the system between allowing/cutting-off supplying of liquid to a dispenser through the first connection tube. Utilizing the liquid cutoff device eliminates, along the first connection tube, intervening conventional valves having structural components that come in direct contact with the supplied liquid, and on which sponges or other cleaning elements might get caught. The inner wall of the first connection tube may thus be cleaned readily with a sponge or the like. Beverages such as beer thus can easily be kept hygienically and served.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Kyokko Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Takashi Wada, Kenji Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 9209506
    Abstract: A resonant circuit includes a plurality of cables, each of which including: an outer conductor made of a conductive material in a cylindrical manner; an inner conductor, made of a conductive material in an elongated manner, and disposed inside of the outer conductor; and an insulator disposed between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. The plurality of cables is disposed in series in a circular manner. The inner conductor, provided in one of adjacently disposed cables among the plurality of cables, is conductively connected to the outer conductor of another of the adjacently disposed cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Haruo Ikeda, Shunsaku Koga
  • Patent number: 9103451
    Abstract: A device for stopping a flow of fluid in a fixed length of tube with an actuator simple in construction is provided. The stopping device is free of direct touch with the fluid inside the tube, expected not to obstruct the flow in the tube as permitted as possible at normal condition, expected to perform both detection and control with a single device, and further invulnerable to kinds of fluids. The device for stopping a flow of fluid includes a tube holder to keep a tube in looped configuration, a movable part pressing the looped configuration of the tube. Pressing of the looped configuration of the tube make a snapped bent to stop the flow of fluid passed through the tube. Putting the movable part back into place results in the tube's returning from the configuration having the bent, allowing the fluid flowing again through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Kyokko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Takashi Wada, Kenji Kusunoki
  • Patent number: D732326
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Kitano, Kenji Kato, Teruhiko Kitamura