Patents by Inventor Hironori Kaji

Hironori Kaji 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: 7189320
    Abstract: The invention provides a pump for liquid chromatography excellent in feeding liquid stably at an extremely low flow rate and in discharging bubbles at startup. In a pump for liquid chromatography including a cylinder and a plunger that reciprocates in the cylinder to suck and discharge fluid, the pump further includes a large-flow-rate pump that feeds liquid by the plunger, a small-flow-rate pump that feeds the liquid by the plunger, motion conversion means that converts the rotational motion of a motor to a reciprocating motion, an actuator that directly drives the plunger, and a drive part that drives the actuator, and selectively switches means for driving the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Patent number: 7163379
    Abstract: A gradient liquid feed pump system capable of liquid feed in a correct mixing ratio even in the case of liquid feed in which the mixing ratio varies. Specifically, it comprises a first plunger pump for sucking and delivering an eluate, a second the first and second plunger pumps through a cam, a first pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the flow path of the second plunger pump, a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the fist plunger pump, a cam position detecting sensor for detecting the cam position, wherein when the cam position is in a delivery interval, the rotary speed of the motor is increased, and the period for decreasing the rotary speed is determined on the basis of the difference between the pressure values obtained from the first and second pressure sensors, respectively. Thereby, liquid feed can be smoothly effected with correct mixing ratio while avoiding pressure interference between pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Mori, Kenichiro Takahashi, Masanori Takaki, Masato Fukuda, Masahito Ito, Hironori Kaji
  • Patent number: 7147364
    Abstract: The invention provides a mixer capable of mixing two kinds of liquids with each other while varying a mixing ratio in a wide range of the flow rates thereof by causing the two liquids in trace amounts to come into contact with each other, or a mixer capable of mixing in short time. The mixer comprises a mixing chamber very low in profile for effecting mixing reaction, and micro-nozzles, provided at a high density in the upper face and lower face thereof, respectively. The mixer is a mixer wherein micro-nozzles are provided in the inner walls of a mixing chamber, respectively, so as to oppose each other, and two liquids are spurted from the micro-nozzles, respectively, thereby implementing mixing by taking advantage of a diffusion phenomenon. Since the two liquids in trace amounts are ejected from the micro-nozzles, respectively, in such a way as to oppose each other, the two liquids in trace amounts come into contact with each other, thereby enabling diffusion mixing in short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Oohashi, Yasuhiko Sasaki, Masahito Ito, Hironori Kaji
  • Patent number: 7063513
    Abstract: In a pump for feeding a liquid for chromatography, first and second plungers form first and second volumes respectively together with first and second chambers, the first plunger is prevented from changing the first volume sufficiently for feeding the liquid between the first and second volumes when the second plunger decreases the second volume to discharge the fluid from the second volume to an outlet path of the pump for the chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Patent number: 7063785
    Abstract: The invention provides a pump for liquid chromatography excellent in feeding liquid stably at an extremely low flow rate with high accuracy and in discharging bubbles at startup. At startup, a first plunger feeds solvent at a large flow rate to discharge bubbles in a pump and to fill the solvent into the pump in a short time and in a normal operation, the first plunger is stopped and the second plunger is pushed into a second pressure chamber at a low speed to feed the solvent at a low flow rate. When the second plunger reaches full stroke, the second plunger is pulled back at a high speed and at the same time the first plunger is pushed into a first pressure chamber in synchronization with the pullback of the second plunger to control the flow rate passing a discharge passage to a constant value at all times by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20060000759
    Abstract: This liquid feeding system has the first and second pumps each of which is provided with a plunger. Liquid sucked through each of the pump suction ports is discharged out of the discharging port through the first pump and/or second pump. Under the starting operation mode, the second pump is stopped and only the first pump is operated. When the discharging pressure at the discharging port reaches up to a predetermined value, the starting operation mode is changed over to the normal operation mode. Under the normal operation mode, the first pump is stopped and only the second pump is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Patent number: 6923916
    Abstract: In a pump for feeding a liquid for chromatography, first and second plungers form first and second volumes respectively together with first and second chambers, the first plunger is prevented from changing the first volume sufficiently for feeding the liquid between the first and second volumes when the second plunger decreases the second volume to discharge the fluid from the second volume to an outlet path of the pump for the chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20050095145
    Abstract: In a pump for feeding a liquid for chromatography, first and second plungers form first and second volumes respectively together with first and second chambers, the first plunger is prevented from changing the first volume sufficiently for feeding the liquid between the first and second volumes when the second plunger decreases the second volume to discharge the fluid from the second volume to an outlet path of the pump for the chromatography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20050084386
    Abstract: A gradient liquid feed pump system capable of liquid feed in a correct mixing ratio even in the case of liquid feed in which the mixing ratio varies. Specifically, it comprises a first plunger pump for sucking and delivering an eluate, a second the first and second plunger pumps through a cam, a first pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the flow path of the second plunger pump, a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the fist plunger pump, a cam position detecting sensor for detecting the cam position, wherein when the cam position is in a delivery interval, the rotary speed of the motor is increased, and the period for decreasing the rotary speed is determined on the basis of the difference between the pressure values obtained from the first and second pressure sensors, respectively. Thereby, liquid feed can be smoothly effected with correct mixing ratio while avoiding pressure interference between pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Mori, Kenichiro Takahashi, Masanori Takaki, Masato Fukuda, Masahito Ito, Hironori Kaji
  • Publication number: 20050068845
    Abstract: The invention provides a mixer capable of mixing two kinds of liquids with each other while varying a mixing ratio in a wide range of the flow rates thereof by causing the two liquids in trace amounts to come into contact with each other, or a mixer capable of mixing in short time. The mixer comprises a mixing chamber very low in profile for effecting mixing reaction, and micro-nozzles, provided at a high density in the upper face and lower face thereof, respectively. The mixer is a mixer wherein micro-nozzles are provided in the inner walls of a mixing chamber, respectively, so as to oppose each other, and two liquids are spurted from the micro-nozzles, respectively, thereby implementing mixing by taking advantage of a diffusion phenomenon. Since the two liquids in trace amounts are ejected from the micro-nozzles, respectively, in such a way as to oppose each other, the two liquids in trace amounts come into contact with each other, thereby enabling diffusion mixing in short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Tomoki Oohashi, Yasuhiko Sasaki, Masahito Ito, Hironori Kaji
  • Publication number: 20050061722
    Abstract: The invention provides a pump for liquid chromatography excellent in feeding liquid stably at an extremely low flow rate and in discharging bubbles at startup. In a pump for liquid chromatography including a cylinder and a plunger that reciprocates in the cylinder to suck and discharge fluid, the pump further includes a large-flow-rate pump that feeds liquid by the plunger, a small-flow-rate pump that feeds the liquid by the plunger, motion conversion means that converts the rotational motion of a motor to a reciprocating motion, an actuator that directly drives the plunger, and a drive part that drives the actuator, and selectively switches means for driving the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20050023205
    Abstract: The invention provides a pump for liquid chromatography excellent in feeding liquid stably at an extremely low flow rate with high accuracy and in discharging bubbles at startup. At startup, a first plunger feeds solvent at a large flow rate to discharge bubbles in a pump and to fill the solvent into the pump in a short time and in a normal operation, the first plunger is stopped and the second plunger is pushed into a second pressure chamber at a low speed to feed the solvent at a low flow rate. When the second plunger reaches full stroke, the second plunger is pulled back at a high speed and at the same time the first plunger is pushed into a first pressure chamber in synchronization with the pullback of the second plunger to control the flow rate passing a discharge passage to a constant value at all times by a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kunihiko Takao, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20040164013
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid chromatograph pump system which sucks eluent from an eluent reserving container, and which feeds pressurized high pressure eluent into a column, wherein a plunger reciprocating in a cylinder is formed on its outer peripheral surface with a stepped part along the sliding diretion of the plunger in the cylinder so as to define a working chamber between the stepper part and the inner wall surface of the cylinder, the flow rate of the liquid chromatograph pump being determined by the volume of the working chamber and the traveling speed of the plunger, thereby it is possible to stably feed a liquid at an extremely low flow rate, and to satisfactorily expel air bubbles upon a start of the liquid chromatograph pump system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takao, Kenji Hiraku, Isao Hayase, Hironori Kaji, Masahito Ito
  • Patent number: 6122049
    Abstract: A flow cell is provided with a cell body having an inlet flow passage, a detection flow passage, an outlet flow passage, and windows fixed to the cell body on both sides of the detection flow passage. The inlet flow passage is formed by inserting in and closely contacting a tube in and to a hole formed in the cell body, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimi Sugiyama, Yoshiaki Yamada, Hironori Kaji, Shigeru Amiya
  • Patent number: 5852231
    Abstract: In a low pressure gradient liquid chromatograph, two eluting liquids are transferred while they are being mixed with each other, whereby the mixing ratio thereof is changed with time. The mixing is performed by alternately opening and closing check valves provided in the liquid passages of the eluting liquids during a time period corresponding to the actual suction stroke of a plunger pump. The mixing ratio is determined by the time periods during which the check valves are opened, respectively. A detector is provided for detecting the pressure of the mixed liquid and the timing for opening and closing the check valves is changed in accordance with the detected pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Kaji
  • Patent number: 5664937
    Abstract: In a pump in which dual plunger is reciprocated with cams attached to the rotating shaft of a motor, the delivery pressure of liquid is measured during a certain period in each cycle of the pump. By setting the pressure during the certain period as a standard pressure value, the motor is controlled so that the delivery pressure during the remaining period in each cycle approaches to the standard pressure value. In this pump, rotating-speed-priority control and pressure-priority control are alternatingly performed to decrease pulsation during delivering liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takahashi, Hironori Kaji, Kaoru Hagiya
  • Patent number: 5559283
    Abstract: A casing structure for chromatograph having a plurality of casings respectively installing at least a separating column, a sample inducing portion and/or a detector portion of the chromatograph and the casings are vertically stacked one on another or horizontally juxtaposed one to another. The casing structure further comprises a passage for installing reagent feed pipes therein, and the passage is respectively provided in respective side portions of the casing for communicating with that of another casing when in the stacked state or in the juxtaposed state, and has an inner hole at an inner side thereof for connecting the reagent feed pipes to a pipe connecting portion arranged in the casings, and the passage has a cover at an outer side thereof for being opened outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Kaji, Atushi Ninomiya, Isamu Takekoshi, Hideo Seki, Kaoru Hagiya
  • Patent number: 5512170
    Abstract: The volume of the sample added to the sample retainer and the capacity of the sample retainer are compared, and the less one is stored as volume of the sample injected to a sample separating column. If the volume of the sample added to the sample retainer is more than the capacity of the sample retainer, accordingly, the capacity of the sample retainer is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamada, Hironori Kaji
  • Patent number: D354013
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ninomiya, Seiji Kamimura, Isamu Takekoshi, Hironori Kaji, Hideo Seki, Kaoru Hagiya
  • Patent number: D356745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ninomiya, Seiji Kamimura, Isamu Takekoshi, Hironori Kaji, Hideo Seki, Kaoru Hagiya