Patents by Inventor Masato Kawai

Masato Kawai 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: 20100115994
    Abstract: The adsorbent for carbon monoxide of the present invention is obtained by activating a Cu-ZSM5 type zeolite prepared as a catalyst for removal of NOX through heating at 450 to 600° C. in an inert gas atmosphere containing no moisture. The gas purification method of the present invention includes removing carbon monoxide as a trace amount of impurities contained in a gas by a temperature swing adsorption method, wherein the adsorbent for carbon monoxide according to claim 1 is used, and a regeneration operation of the adsorbent for carbon monoxide is carried out at 200 to 350° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Masayoshi Hayashida, Akihiro Nakamura, Tatsuya Hidano, Kazuhiko Fujie, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20090282866
    Abstract: A purification method for feed air in cryogenic air separation of the present invention includes purifying the feed air for the cryogenic air separation by using a temperature swing adsorption method, wherein the whole region of a carbon dioxide adsorbent layer packed in an adsorption column is used as a mass transfer zone of a carbon dioxide. Also, a purification apparatus for feed air in cryogenic air separation of the present invention includes at least two adsorption columns; and a moisture adsorbent and a carbon dioxide adsorbent being laminated and packed in the adsorption columns, wherein the packed amount of the carbon dioxide adsorbent is the same as the amount of the carbon dioxide adsorbent in the region of the carbon dioxide adsorbent which a mass transfer zone of a carbon dioxide occupies at the end of an adsorption step, and a temperature swing adsorption method is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Masato Kawai, Morimitsu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090266232
    Abstract: A method of activating a molded Cu-ZSM5 zeolite adsorbent of the present invention includes: oxidizing a molded product of Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in the flow of air or a gas having an equivalent oxidizability to the air at a temperature of 250° C. to 550° C.; and then heat-treating the molded product of the Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in vacuum or the flow of an inert gas at a temperature of 550° C. to 800° C. According to the present invention, an adsorbent whose adsorption performance is not deteriorated can be obtained in the case where a molded product is produced using Cu-ZSM5 zeolite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Kazuhiko Fujie, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20090247996
    Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus for irradiating a laser beam to a patient's eye, comprises: a plurality of laser sources which emit treatment laser beams having different wavelengths, each laser source being held in a main body to be mountable and demountable and connected to a power source through a connector; a light delivery optical system having a mirror for making the laser beams from the laser sources coaxial with each other to deliver each laser beam to the patient's eye; an input unit for inputting mounting information of each laser source; a control unit which checks a predetermined operation of each laser source by a sensor at the time of activation to determine whether an abnormality is present or not in each laser source, and displays an indication that the abnormality is present on a display, wherein the control unit will not perform the operation check whether the abnormality is present or not in the laser source or laser sources unmounted in the main body, based on the mounting information input by
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Abe, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20090151558
    Abstract: A gas purifier of the present invention includes a purifier in which a gas-purifying agent is packed, wherein a gas is fed into the purifier, and impurities in the gas are removed by a thermal swing adsorption method, in which an amount A of the gas-purifying agent is determined such that an impurities-removing capacity possessed by half of the amount A of the gas-purifying agent is equal to the total amount of impurities in the gas to be purified in one purification step, and the amount of the gas-purifying agent packed in the purifier is the amount A or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Morimitsu Nakamura, Masato Kawai
  • Patent number: 7393349
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser treatment apparatus comprises: a main unit in which an illumination and observation optical system for illuminating a patient's eye and allowing observation of the patient's eye under illumination, and an irradiation optical system for irradiating a treatment laser beam and an aiming beam to the patient's eye; a joystick including a grip to be grasped by an operator, the joystick being configured to move the main unit with respect to the patient's eye; and a switch placed in an opening formed in a side of the joystick, the switch being configured to input a plurality of switch signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Abe, Seiki Tomita, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20080108500
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material comprising a support and a heat-sensitive recording layer, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer contains a leuco dye and a color developer, the leuco dye is in a form of composite particles comprising the leuco dye and a hydrophobic resin, and the color developer comprises at least 4,4?-cyclohexylidenediphenol and 4,4?-bis(N-p-tolylsulfonylaminocarbonylamino)diphenylmethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: OJI PAPER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwasaki, Hisashi Tani, Masato Kawai, Masaharu Nojima
  • Patent number: 7300497
    Abstract: A gas separation method is provided in which, when separating a first component and a second component from a mixed gas containing a plurality of components by using a pressure swing adsorption method, these components can be efficiently recovered and cost reduction can be achieved. Between an adsorption step and a regeneration process step, which use a first adsorption column containing a first adsorbent on which the first component is less readily adsorbable and the second component is absorbable, and a second adsorption column containing a second adsorbent on which the first component is readily adsorbable and the second component is less readily adsorbable, an equalization depressurization step and an equalization pressurization process step, in which the pressure of the first and second adsorption columns is equalized, is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsushi Urakami, Tooru Nagasaka, Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070209518
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorbent that includes a zeolite with either a H-FER structure or a MOR structure in which the pore diameter has been adjusted by ion exchange. A propane adsorbent that includes a zeolite with a MFI structure. A hydrocarbon removal unit that includes a TSA pre-purification unit having a column packed with sequential layers of activated alumina, a NaX zeolite, and the hydrocarbon adsorbent. A method of reducing the hydrocarbon content within liquid oxygen inside a cryogenic air separation unit that includes purifying feed air with the above pre-purification unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hidano, Morimitsu Nakamura, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20070193446
    Abstract: A method of restarting a TSA apparatus includes, in the case where the TSA apparatus was stopped when or after when a temperature of a purge gas which flows out from a first adsorption column (5a) during a regeneration process became a peak temperature, in the first adsorption column (5a), closing an entrance valve, an exit valve, and an atmosphere-releasing valve; in a second adsorption column (5b) during an adsorption process, closing an entrance valve and an exit valve and opening an atmosphere-releasing valve so as to release a gas in the opposite direction to feed air flow, followed by closing the atmosphere-releasing valve; pressurizing, just before a restart, the second adsorption column (5b) with feed air to a pressure necessary for the adsorption process; and performing, after the restart, the regeneration process and the adsorption process continuously from the time point of stopping the TSA apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Morimitsu Nakamura, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060224147
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser treatment apparatus comprises: a main unit in which an illumination and observation optical system for illuminating a patient's eye and allowing observation of the patients eye under illumination, and an irradiation optical system for irradiating a treatment laser beam and an aiming beam to the patient's eye; a joystick including a grip to be grasped by an operator, the joystick being configured to move the main unit with respect to the patient's eye; and a switch placed in an opening formed in a side of the joystick, the switch being configured to input a plurality of switch signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Abe, Seiki Tomita, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060165573
    Abstract: This gas purifying process removes trace constituents from a mixed gas that includes a rare gas and nitrogen as main components, and at least one from among hydrogen, nitrogen and hydrogen reaction products, and water vapor as the trace constituent. This process sequentially carries out an adsorbing step for removing water vapor and nitrogen and hydrogen reaction products; a hydrogen oxidation step for converting the hydrogen into water vapor by means of a hydrogen oxidation catalytic reaction in the presence of oxygen; and a drying step for removing water vapor generated in the hydrogen oxidation step. When nitrogen oxides are included as a trace constituent, then a denitration step is carried out prior to the adsorbing step, to convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water vapor by means of a catalytic denitration reaction in the presence of a reducing substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Ryuichi Yazaki, Masato Kawai, Tetsuya Kimijima, Kunio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6955711
    Abstract: Component contained in a gas mixture can be separated based on a PSA method and recovered with high purities at the same time, the system is simple, the system cost is low, and the operation is easy and may be used for separating oxygen and nitrogen from air or for separating noble gases and nitrogen from a gas mixture containing noble gases and nitrogen, and obtaining each gas as a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura, Tatsuya Hidano
  • Publication number: 20050199122
    Abstract: A gas separation method is provided in which, when separating a first component and a second component from a mixed gas containing a plurality of components by using a pressure swing adsorption method, these components can be efficiently recovered and cost reduction can be achieved. Between an adsorption step and a regeneration process step, which use a first adsorption column containing a first adsorbent on which the first component is less readily adsorbable and the second component is absorbable, and a second adsorption column containing a second adsorbent on which the first component is readily adsorbable and the second component is less readily adsorbable, an equalization depressurization step and an equalization pressurization process step, in which the pressure of the first and second adsorption columns is equalized, is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsushi Urakami, Tooru Nagasaka, Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6923844
    Abstract: A gas separation method and apparatus that recovers efficiently principal gas components from a feed gas that includes a plurality of components, and enables supplying the product gases continuously at a stable flow rate and component concentration. A first separation step using a first adsorption column and a second separation step using a second adsorption column are provided, a circulating feed gas, consisting of the recovered exhaust gases discharged in each of the steps and the feed gas, is used as a gas to be separated. The outflow rate and component concentration of a second gas product are maintained constant by controlling the outflow rate of the first gas product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsushi Urakami, Tooru Nagasaka, Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6916358
    Abstract: An adsorbent for separating nitrogen from a mixed gas of oxygen and nitrogen is MSC wherein an oxygen and nitrogen separation ratio ? and a ratio (t95/t50) of a time t50 required for adsorbing 50% of the oxygen equilibrium adsorption amount and a time t95 required for adsorbing 95% of the oxygen equilibrium adsorption amount satisfy the inequality (t95/t50)<0.4×(??24)??35. The amount of adsorbent used with respect to a predetermined amount of nitrogen generated can be reduced since a method is carried out which uses this adsorbent to produce nitrogen by separating nitrogen from the mixed gas of oxygen and nitrogen by means of a PSA method. By this method, it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus and reduce and miniaturize the scale of the apparatus, and the power consumption amount can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Masato Kawai, Masayoshi Hayashida, Yoshinori Watanabe, Shinichi Marumo
  • Publication number: 20050000355
    Abstract: The invention provides a gas separation method and apparatus that can recover efficiently principal gas components from a feed gas that includes a plurality of components, and enables supplying the product gases continuously at a stable flow rate and component concentration. In the present invention, a first separation step using a first adsorption column and a second separation step using a second adsorption column are provided, a circulating feed gas, which is consisting of the recovered exhaust gases discharged in each of the steps and the feed gas, is used as a gas to be separated, the outflow rate and component concentration of a second gas product are maintained at a constant by controlling the outflow rate of the first gas product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Tatsushi Urakami, Tooru Nagasaka, Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6824588
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for purifying the air used in cryogenic air separation are described, which are capable of effectively removing nitrogen oxides and/or hydrocarbons. The apparatus comprises an adsorber comprising an adsorption cylinder that has a first adsorbing layer and a second adsorbing layer therein. The first adsorbing layer is composed of a first adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing water in the air. The second adsorbing layer is composed of a second adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen oxide and/or hydrocarbon in the air passing the first adsorbing layer, wherein the second adsorbent comprises an X zeolite containing magnesium ion as an ion-exchangeable cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Morimitsu Nakamura, Kazuhiko Fujie, Yasuo Tatsumi, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20040231510
    Abstract: An adsorbent for separating nitrogen from a mixed gas of oxygen and nitrogen is MSC wherein an oxygen and nitrogen separation ratio &agr; and a ratio (t95/t50) of a time t50 required for adsorbing 50% of the oxygen equilibrium adsorption amount and a time t95 required for adsorbing 95% of the oxygen equilibrium adsorption amount satisfy the inequality
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Masato Kawai, Masayoshi Hayashida, Yoshinori Watanabe, Shinichi Marumo
  • Patent number: 6767386
    Abstract: CMS adsorbents having suitable indexes are used to improve greatly the performance of nitrogen-producing apparatuses where nitrogen is obtained from the air with a PSA method, so as to improve the efficiency of nitrogen production. A nitrogen PSA apparatus is formed with two adsorbing columns where an adsorption step and a regeneration step are performed alternatively and periodically. The adsorption step is for adsorbing oxygen and conducting nitrogen to a product tank with the supply of compressed air from an air compressor, and the regeneration step for releasing the adsorbed gas after the adsorption step. The adsorbing columns are filled with a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) that selectively adsorbs oxygen as an adsorbent. The CMS adsorbs an oxygen/nitrogen amount of 50% of the saturated adsorption amount with a period TO/TN starting from oxygen/nitrogen supply, wherein TO is 5˜10 seconds and TN is larger than TO by more than 41 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura, Masayoshi Hayashida, Yoshinori Watanabe, Shinichi Marumo