Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Kuratani

Nobuyuki Kuratani 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: 20240111009
    Abstract: Preventing blood flow artifacts from being increased in an imaging plane allows reduction of the blood flow artifacts in the cross section subsequently excited. In the imaging using a spin-echo (SE) pulse sequence, an excitation width of a 90° pulse is extended from an imaging plane to one side. This one side indicates a downstream side of the blood flow with respect to a vessel of interest. In imaging multiple slices, the order of measuring the multiple imaging slices is set along the direction in which the width is extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuho Kamba, Masahiro Takizawa, Taisei Ueda, Nobuyuki Yoshizawa, Atsushi Kuratani, Kosuke Ito
  • Patent number: 9879291
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd., Bio-Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuratani, Shinji Hama, Hideo Noda, Hideki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9580729
    Abstract: A method for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass using yeast at low cost is provided. The method of the present invention for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass includes steps of (1) pretreating lignocellulosic biomass, (2) treating a cellulose fraction obtained in Step (1) with a cellulose hydrolase, (3) mixing saccharified biomass obtained in Step (2) with yeasts to perform ethanol fermentation, and (4) subjecting a fermentation product obtained in Step (3) to a solid-liquid separation, wherein a cycle consisting of Steps (1), (2), (3) and (4) is repeated twice or more, and yeasts obtained in Step (4) are used as all or a portion of yeasts in Step (3) of the subsequent cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: KANSAI CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CO., LTD., BIO-ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Noda, Shinji Hama, Nobuyuki Kuratani, Akihiko Kondo
  • Publication number: 20150284748
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuratani, Shinji Hama, Hideo Noda, Hideki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20150037858
    Abstract: A method for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass using yeast at low cost is provided. The method of the present invention for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass includes steps of (1) pretreating lignocellulosic biomass, (2) treating a cellulose fraction obtained in Step (1) with a cellulose hydrolase, (3) mixing saccharified biomass obtained in Step (2) with yeasts to perform ethanol fermentation, and (4) subjecting a fermentation product obtained in Step (3) to a solid-liquid separation, wherein a cycle consisting of Steps (1), (2), (3) and (4) is repeated twice or more, and yeasts obtained in Step (4) are used as all or a portion of yeasts in Step (3) of the subsequent cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hideo Noda, Shinji Hama, Nobuyuki Kuratani, Akihiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 7846303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-structured internal heat exchange-type distillation column including at least an outermost heat exchange section, an intermediate section, and an innermost heat exchange section, in which the innermost heat exchange section is isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section is also isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section and the innermost heat exchange section are in communication with one another through at least two vapor tunnel connecting ports, a channel is formed inside the outermost heat exchange section in such a manner that, in a case where at least one of the vapor tunnel connecting ports serves as an inlet for vapor from the innermost heat exchange section into the outermost heat exchange section, and the other vapor tunnel connecting port serves as an outlet for vapor from the outermost heat exchange section back to the innermost heat exchange section, the vapor can smoothly flow in one-way traffi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Noda, Hiroshi Yamaji, Nobuyuki Kuratani, Kunio Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20100261235
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a fatty acid ester of the present invention comprises (a) mixing and agitating an oil and fat starting material and a lower alcohol, and supplying a mixture to one of the catalyst reaction tubes filled with a lipase; (b) producing a fatty acid ester and glycerin in the catalyst reaction tube; (c) introducing an outflowing liquid from the catalyst reaction tube into a glycerin separation tank, thereby collecting the glycerin; (d) adding a lower alcohol to a separated liquid obtained by separating the glycerin from the outflowing liquid, mixing and agitating an obtained material, and supplying a mixture to a following catalyst reaction tube; (e) repeating the steps (b) to (d) until supply to a last catalyst reaction tube is performed; and (f) collecting a fatty acid ester from the separated liquid obtained from the last catalyst reaction tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicants: Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd., Bio-energy Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuratani, Shinji Hama, Hideo Noda, Hideki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20070251679
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-structured internal heat exchange-type distillation column comprising at least an outermost heat exchange section, an intermediate section, and an innermost heat exchange section, in which the innermost heat exchange section is isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section is also isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section and the innermost heat exchange section are in communication with one another through at least two vapor tunnel connecting ports, a channel is formed inside the outermost heat exchange section in such a manner that, in a case where at least one of the vapor tunnel connecting ports serves as an inlet for vapor from the innermost heat exchange section into the outermost heat exchange section, and the other vapor tunnel connecting port serves as an outlet for vapor from the outermost heat exchange section back to the innermost heat exchange section, the vapor can smoothly flow in one-way traff
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Noda, Hiroshi Yamaji, Nobuyuki Kuratani, Kunio Kataoka