Patents by Inventor Katsunori Akatsu
Katsunori Akatsu 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).
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Patent number: 8262551Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a centrifuge includes: a rotor for separating samples; a motor for driving and rotating the rotor; a drive shaft for connecting together the motor and the rotor; a rotation sensor for detecting at least one of the rotation speed of the motor and the rotor; and a displacement sensor for detecting the swinging motion of the rotor or the drive shaft, wherein, after one of speed of the motor and the rotor is accelerated up to previously set rotation speed, when the swinging amount of the rotor or the drive shaft is equal to or more than preset allowable value, the supply of power to the motor is stopped to decelerate the motor, wherein, during the deceleration, signal from the displacement sensor is compared with the preset allowable value, and wherein when the signal from the displacement sensor becomes equal to or less than the preset allowable value, the motor is accelerated.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Ooyama
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Patent number: 7909751Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Patent number: 7901342Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Publication number: 20110028297Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Patent number: 7874973Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centrifuge in which a steam sterilization of a sample flow passage is performed, the centrifuge including: a rotor configured to centrifuging a liquid sample; a drive portion that drives and rotates the rotor; a chamber that accommodates the rotor therein, the chamber having a first and a second penetration holes provided on an upper and a bottom portions thereof, respectively; and a first and a second valves disposed on the first and the second penetration holes, respectively; wherein a cooling gas is introduced through one of the first and the second penetration holes and discharged through the other to cool a periphery of the rotor before or after execution of a centrifuging operation of the liquid sample.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Masaharu Aizawa, Tatsuya Konno
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Patent number: 7794383Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a rotator part that separates a liquid sample and has a rotor and a drive part. The rotor receives a liquid sample therein and rotates to separate the liquid sample. The drive part drives the rotor to rotate. A controller part controls operations of the rotator part which is mounted in a rotator casing. A controller casing which is separate from the rotator casing mounts the controller part, and the controller part is connected via a drive wire to the drive part in the rotator part. The rotor casing is disposed at a clean room, the controller casing is disposed outside the clean room, and the drive wire passes through a wall of the clean room via an air-tight sealing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshinori Tobita, Yukiyoshi Maehara
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Publication number: 20090239729Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Yoshinori TOBITA, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Patent number: 7591775Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes: a sample line; and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes: a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Publication number: 20090170683Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a centrifuge includes: a rotor for separating samples; a motor for driving and rotating the rotor; a drive shaft for connecting together the motor and the rotor; a rotation sensor for detecting at least one of the rotation speed of the motor and the rotor; and a displacement sensor for detecting the swinging motion of the rotor or the drive shaft, wherein, after one of speed of the motor and the rotor is accelerated up to previously set rotation speed, when the swinging amount of the rotor or the drive shaft is equal to or more than preset allowable value, the supply of power to the motor is stopped to decelerate the motor, wherein, during the deceleration, signal from the displacement sensor is compared with the preset allowable value, and wherein when the signal from the displacement sensor becomes equal to or less than the preset allowable value, the motor is accelerated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Katsunori AKATSU, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Ooyama
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Publication number: 20080300124Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centrifuge in which a steam sterilization of a sample flow passage is performed, the centrifuge including: a rotor configured to centrifuging a liquid sample; a drive portion that drives and rotates the rotor; a chamber that accommodates the rotor therein, the chamber having a first and a second penetration holes provided on an upper and a bottom portions thereof, respectively; and a first and a second valves disposed on the first and the second penetration holes, respectively; wherein a cooling gas is introduced through one of the first and the second penetration holes and discharged through the other to cool a periphery of the rotor before or after execution of a centrifuging operation of the liquid sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: Katsunori AKATSU, Masaharu Aizawa, Tatsuya Konno
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Publication number: 20080251436Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a rotator part that separates a liquid sample and has a rotor and a drive part. The rotor receives a liquid sample therein and rotates to separate the liquid sample. The drive part drives the rotor to rotate. A controller part controls operations of the rotator part which is mounted in a rotator casing. A controller casing which is separate from the rotator casing mounts the controller part, and the controller part is connected via a drive wire to the drive part in the rotator part. The rotor casing is disposed at a clean room, the controller casing is disposed outside the clean room, and the drive wire passes through a wall of the clean room via an air-tight sealing mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshinori Tobita, Yukiyoshi Maehara
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Patent number: 7396324Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a rotator part, a controller part, and a first control panel. The rotator part has a rotor for separating components in a liquid sample, and a drive shaft for driving the rotor to rotate. The controller part controls operations of the rotator part. The first control panel is provided with a first operating part for setting operating conditions of the rotator part including the desired rotating speed of the rotor and the desired operation period of time of the rotor, and a first display unit for displaying the operating conditions and status of the rotator part. A second control panel having the same functions as the first control panel is provided in a location separate from the controller part. Hence, a user can check the operating status of the centrifugal separator and set and modify operating conditions for the centrifugal separator not only by using the first control panel but also by using the second control panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshinori Tobita, Yukiyoshi Maehara
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Publication number: 20060009341Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes: a sample line; and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes: a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
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Publication number: 20050107235Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a rotator part, a controller part, and a first control panel. The rotator part has a rotor for separating components in a liquid sample, and a drive shaft for driving the rotor to rotate. The controller part controls operations of the rotator part. The first control panel is provided with a first operating part for setting operating conditions of the rotator part including the desired rotating speed of the rotor and the desired operation period of time of the rotor, and a first display unit for displaying the operating conditions and status of the rotator part. A second control panel having the same functions as the first control panel is provided in a location separate from the controller part. Hence, a user can check the operating status of the centrifugal separator and set and modify operating conditions for the centrifugal separator not only by using the first control panel but also by using the second control panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshinori Tobita, Yukiyoshi Maehara
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Patent number: 6589152Abstract: The rotor data including a model name, a maximum rotating speed, and a rotor identification number of a rotor that is purchased after installation, for example, is stored through the inputting unit in an EEPROM in addition to the rotor data that was stored in the ROM before shipping. The inputted rotor data is displayed on the display in a list image together with the rotor data of the rotor data in the ROM to provide easily selection of the rotor. The inputted rotor data may be displayed with priority to the rotor data in the ROM. The rotor data may further include check data. It may be judged that the inputted rotor data is correctly inputted. If the rotor data is incorrectly inputted, an error message is displayed and the rotary data is not stored. If the rotor data is correctly inputted, the rotary data is registered in the RAM.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Oyama, Takayuki Watahiki
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Patent number: 6589151Abstract: Each of changeable rotors has an identification mark portion thereon. The identification mark portion is detected to generate an identification signal. A microprocessor starts and accelerates rotation of the motor, detects whether the identification signal is detected during acceleration of the rotor, detects whether the identification signal has been detected before the motor reaches a predetermined rotation speed, to provide detection of the identification mark portion by the ID sensor. The microprocessor cyclically detects whether the identification mark portion is detected during rotating the rotor at the steady state rotation speed. The user is informed of error when the microprocessor fails to detect the identification mark portion a predetermined number of times or within a predetermined interval.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Shinji Watanabe, Takayuki Watahiki
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Publication number: 20020160900Abstract: Each of changeable rotors has an identification mark portion thereon. The identification mark portion is detected to generate an identification signal. A microprocessor starts and accelerates rotation of the motor, detects whether the identification signal is detected during acceleration of the rotor, detects whether the identification signal has been detected before the motor reaches a predetermined rotation speed, and controls the driver to rotate the motor at a steady state rotation speed if identification signal has not been detected before rotation of the motor reaches a predetermined rotation speed, to provide detection of the identification mark portion by the identification mark detection means. The microprocessor cyclically detects whether the identification mark portion is detected during rotating the rotor at the steady state rotation speed. The user is informed of error when the control means fails to detect the identification mark portion a predetermined times or within a predetermined interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Shinji Watanabe, Takayuki Watahiki
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Publication number: 20020147095Abstract: The rotor data including a model name, a maximum rotating speed, and a rotor identification number of a rotor that is purchased after installation, for example, is stored through the inputting unit in an EEPROM in addition to the rotor data that was stored in the ROM before shipping. The inputted rotor data is displayed on the display in a list image together with the rotor data of the rotor data in the ROM to provide easily selection of the rotor. The inputted rotor data may be displayed with priority to the rotor data in the ROM. The rotor data may further include check data. It may be judged that the inputted rotor data is correctly inputted. If the rotor data is incorrectly inputted, an error message is displayed and the rotary data is not stored. If the rotor data is correctly inputted, the rotary data is registered in the RAM.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Oyama, Takayuki Watahiki
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Patent number: 5726550Abstract: A motor control system for controlling power supplied to an electric motor rotating a rotor employed in a centrifuge is provided. The motor control system includes first, second, and third converters and first and second smoothing capacitors. In a motor power mode, the first converter operates to transfer the charged energy in the first smoothing capacitor to the second smoothing capacitor for providing power to the motor through the third converter, while the second converter transfers, in a motor braking mode, the charged energy in the second smoothing capacitor to the first smoothing capacitor to return the power regenerated by the motor during a braking operation to the AC power supply through the first converter. The second converter performs a function of providing an initial energizing energy to the motor for a given period of time at the start of the braking operation for stability of a power-regenerating operation of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1996Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Inaniwa, Shinji Watanabe, Noriyasu Matsufuji, Katsunori Akatsu