Patents by Inventor Kenichi Nemoto

Kenichi Nemoto 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: 12121914
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a bucket and a swing rotor. The swing rotor includes a through hole penetrating from an upper to a lower side in an axial direction of the swing rotor and a notch formed in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the through hole and formed on a radial outer side of the swing rotor. The bucket includes a container. A flange having a seating surface seated in the notch during swinging is formed near the opening of the container, chamfering is performed in parallel on opposing outer surfaces of the container on a bottom side of the container with respect to the seating surface, a cross-section shape of the holding hole inside the container is formed to be elliptical, and a short axis direction of the cross section is arranged parallel to a swing rotation axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 11971339
    Abstract: A particle size distribution measurement device includes a cell holding body 31 that holds a measurement cell 2 containing a measurement sample and a dispersion medium and a reference cell 6 containing a reference sample and is rotated by a motor 322, and a cell discrimination mechanism 7 that discriminates the cells 2, 6 passing through a predetermined rotation position by using a magnetic force or electrostatic capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Horiba, Ltd., Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Watanabe, Hidetaka Osawa, Ken Asakura, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20230381793
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge including a bucket and a swing rotor. The swing rotor includes a through hole penetrating from an upper to a lower side in an axial direction of the swing rotor and a notch formed in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the through hole and formed on a radial outer side of the swing rotor. The bucket includes a container. A flange having a seating surface seated in the notch during swinging is formed near the opening of the container, chamfering is performed in parallel on opposing outer surfaces of the container on a bottom side of the container with respect to the seating surface, a cross-section shape of the holding hole inside the container is formed to be elliptical, and a short axis direction of the cross section is arranged parallel to a swing rotation axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 11759794
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge. In a centrifuge sample container (40) having a body part (41) and a bottom part (42), the body part (41) has two parallel flat surfaces, and includes an opening (44) having an elliptical shape from above view. The bottom part (42) is formed by a semi-cylindrical part (42a) and quarter spherical parts (42b) connected to the sides of the semi-cylindrical part. A height (H) of the sample container is greater than a length (L2) in the short axis direction of the opening, and a curvature radius (R1) of the outer surface of an arc part of the elliptical shape, a curvature radius (R2) of the outer surface of the semi-cylindrical part, and a curvature radius (R3) of the outer surface of the quarter spherical parts are equal. A flange part (43) that expands radially outward is formed on the opening (44) of the body part (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20220011213
    Abstract: A particle size distribution measurement device includes a cell holding body 31 that holds a measurement cell 2 containing a measurement sample and a dispersion medium and a reference cell 6 containing a reference sample and is rotated by a motor 322, and a cell discrimination mechanism 7 that discriminates the cells 2, 6 passing through a predetermined rotation position by using a magnetic force or electrostatic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuji YAMAGUCHI, Hitoshi WATANABE, Hidetaka OSAWA, Ken ASAKURA, Kenichi NEMOTO
  • Patent number: 10987678
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge. In a centrifuge having a rotor with a rotor body that holds a sample and that is rapidly rotated, an inclined surface that extends upward as it extends radially outward is formed on an upper-side outer peripheral portion of the rotor, in a region that is at a radially outward side and at an upper side of the outer edge of an opening. The inclined surface is a continuous ring-like inclined surface that has the same cross-sectional shape in the circumferential direction and is formed into a straight-line shape or a curved-line shape in cross-section along a rotation central axis. Although winds occur during high-speed rotation of the rotor, the winds are rectified by the inclined surface, and a component force for pressing the rotor body in a downward direction acts thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Eppendorf Himac Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20200398286
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge. In a centrifuge sample container (40) having a body part (41) and a bottom part (42), the body part (41) has two parallel flat surfaces, and includes an opening (44) having an elliptical shape from above view. The bottom part (42) is formed by a semi-cylindrical part (42a) and quarter spherical parts (42b) connected to the sides of the semi-cylindrical part. A height (H) of the sample container is greater than a length (L2) in the short axis direction of the opening, and a curvature radius (R1) of the outer surface of an arc part of the elliptical shape, a curvature radius (R2) of the outer surface of the semi-cylindrical part, and a curvature radius (R3) of the outer surface of the quarter spherical parts are equal. A flange part (43) that expands radially outward is formed on the opening (44) of the body part (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun SATO, Kenichi NEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180353974
    Abstract: In a centrifuge having a rotor with a rotor body that holds a sample and that is rapidly rotated, an inclined surface that extends upward as it extends radially outward is formed on an upper-side outer peripheral portion of the rotor, in a region that is at a radially outward side and at an upper side of the outer edge of an opening. The inclined surface is a continuous ring-like inclined surface that has the same cross-sectional shape in the circumferential direction and is formed into a straight-line shape or a curved-line shape in cross-section along a rotation central axis. Although winds occur during high-speed rotation of the rotor, the winds are rectified by the inclined surface, and a component force for pressing the rotor body in a downward direction acts thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun SATO, Kenichi NEMOTO
  • Patent number: 10046335
    Abstract: A centrifuge including a lid section of a sample container, the lid section having a rotating shaft for swinging, and a swing-type rotor, and the centrifuge conducts centrifugation operation in a state where the sample container is seated in a bucket housing section by making the sample container in which the rotating shaft is mounted to a rotating shaft engagement groove of the rotor swing due to the rotation of the rotor. The rotating shaft comprises a plurality of members connected by a connection section and is configured so as to be bendable at the connection section by a centrifugal load accompanying the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9757739
    Abstract: A centrifuge and a rotor thereof are provided. The centrifuge performs centrifugation in a state where the sample container is swung by rotation and seated in a cutout part of a rotor body. The sample container includes a bucket accommodating a container filled with a sample, and a lid for sealing the bucket and having a rotation shaft. Grooves extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bucket on the bottom side with respect to a seating surface of the bucket. The grooves are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Formation of the grooves can prevent increasing the weight of the bucket and realize a highly rigid sample container that can withstand deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9731301
    Abstract: Provided is a swing rotor for a centrifuge. The centrifuge includes a swing type rotor body having a plurality of holding pins and a plurality of buckets held by the holding pins in a swingable manner. On the rotor body, a connection part is formed to connect two branch arms that diverge from an arm part on an outer peripheral side. A thickness-reduced part penetrating in the same direction as a driving shaft is formed in a region surrounded by the two branch arms on an inner peripheral side of the connection part. Since the branch arms deform accordingly to a certain extent, partial concentration of the stress applied on the holding pins due to a centrifugal load can be alleviated. Thus, the lifespan of the centrifuge can be improved and the centrifugal separation operation can be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20170050196
    Abstract: The present invention provides a centrifuge comprising a lid section of a sample container, the lid section having a rotating shaft for swinging, and a swing-type rotor, and the centrifuge conducts centrifugation operation in a state where the sample container is seated in a bucket housing section by making the sample container in which the rotating shaft is mounted to a rotating shaft engagement groove of the rotor swing due to the rotation of the rotor. The rotating shaft comprises a plurality of members connected by a connection section and is configured so as to be bendable at the connection section by a centrifugal load accompanying the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JUN SATO, KENICHI NEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160214118
    Abstract: A centrifuge and a rotor thereof are provided. The centrifuge performs centrifugation in a state where the sample container is swung by rotation and seated in a cutout part of a rotor body. The sample container includes a bucket accommodating a container filled with a sample, and a lid for sealing the bucket and having a rotation shaft. Grooves extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bucket on the bottom side with respect to a seating surface of the bucket. The grooves are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Formation of the grooves can prevent increasing the weight of the bucket and realize a highly rigid sample container that can withstand deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20160121342
    Abstract: Provided is a swing rotor for a centrifuge. The centrifuge includes a swing type rotor body having a plurality of holding pins and a plurality of buckets held by the holding pins in a swingable manner. On the rotor body, a connection part is formed to connect two branch arms that diverge from an arm part on an outer peripheral side. A thickness-reduced part penetrating in the same direction as a driving shaft is formed in a region surrounded by the two branch arms on an inner peripheral side of the connection part. Since the branch arms deform accordingly to a certain extent, partial concentration of the stress applied on the holding pins due to a centrifugal load can be alleviated. Thus, the lifespan of the centrifuge can be improved and the centrifugal separation operation can be stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: JUN SATO, KENICHI NEMOTO
  • Patent number: 9114407
    Abstract: A rotor includes a plurality of holding cavities for holding specimen containers, respectively. A transverse cross sectional shape of the holding cavity is a substantially triangular shape having one vertex on an inner circumference side of the rotor. Two vertices of the substantially triangular shape are arranged on an outer circumference side of the rotor so as to have equidistance from a rotary shaft of the rotor. Spacing between sides of the substantially triangular shape in a circumferential direction of the rotor gradually increase over 60% or more a radial length of the holding cavity from an innermost circumferential position to the outer circumference side of the rotor when viewed in its transverse plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kitazawa, Masaharu Aizawa, Kenichi Nemoto, Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 8821361
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprising: a driving portion; and a swing rotor including, a rotor body, a through-hole passing through the rotor body, pin insert grooves which are provided parallel to the through-hole so as to oppose each other and only partially penetrate the rotor body, and a bucket including, a bucket body that has a contact surface which is configured to contact the rotor body during centrifugal separation, and a cap assembly that seals the bucket body and has a swing shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to an longitudinal direction of the bucket, wherein the swing rotor is rotated when the bucket is inserted into the through-hole, to swing the bucket, and the swing shaft can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the bucket relative to the bucket body and rotated about a longitudinal central axis of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nemoto, Hiroshi Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20130316889
    Abstract: A sample container includes a body part which can accommodate a sample and a cap part that can be mounted on the non-circular body part. On the cap part, a neck support member is set for filling a space between an outer lid and a holding hole of a rotor body. The neck support member is configured to be able to be attached to and removed from the outer lid and to be able to relatively rotate with respect to the outer lid. By mounting the outer lid on the body part, the neck support member can also be mounted at the same time. The neck support member is arranged so as to be interposed between the outer lid and shoulder parts of the body part in an axial direction. The neck support member has a lower surface formed so as to correspond to the shape of the shoulder parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken ASAKURA, Kenichi NEMOTO, Yoshimitsu KITAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8469870
    Abstract: A swing rotor for a centrifugal separator, the swing rotor including: a hub; and a rotor body disposed around the hub, wherein a plurality of pairs of arms are disposed at the rotor body, wherein a holding pin configured to hold a bucket is disposed to the arm, wherein an engagement portion which is configured to be supported by the holding pin is formed to the bucket, and wherein a sliding surface of the holding pin with an engagement portion of the bucket is formed such that a width of a contact area, which is an area that the holding pin contacts with the engagement portion of the bucket, in an axial direction when the bucket does not swing differs from a width of the contact area in the axial direction when the bucket reaches a horizontal position by swinging during a centrifugal separation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20120190527
    Abstract: A swing rotor for a centrifugal separator, the swing rotor including: a hub; and a rotor body disposed around the hub, wherein a plurality of pairs of arms are disposed at the rotor body, wherein a holding pin configured to hold a bucket is disposed to the arm, wherein an engagement portion which is configured to be supported by the holding pin is formed to the bucket, and wherein a sliding surface of the holding pin with an engagement portion of the bucket is formed such that a width of a contact area, which is an area that the holding pin contacts with the engagement portion of the bucket, in an axial direction when the bucket does not swing differs from a width of the contact area in the axial direction when the bucket reaches a horizontal position by swinging during a centrifugal separation operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.,
    Inventor: Kenichi NEMOTO
  • Patent number: D653554
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kitazawa, Masaharu Aizawa, Kenichi Nemoto, Jun Sato