Patents by Inventor Tadashi Ohkawara
Tadashi Ohkawara 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: 10252279Abstract: A centrifuge including a rotor, a rotor chamber having an opening, a motor, a door configured to close the opening, an input/output unit configured to receive an input of an operating condition and to display an operating status, and a housing accommodating therein the rotor, the rotor chamber, the motor, the door and the input/output unit, wherein the housing has the opening at an upper surface thereof, wherein a light emitting part having a horizontal width longer than the opening is provided in the vicinity of a corner portion at which the upper surface and a front surface of the housing intersect with each other or in the vicinity of a front side of the opening, and wherein a light emitting form of the light emitting part is configured to be changed depending on the operating status.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: KOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD.Inventors: Tadashi Ohkawara, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroshi Hayasaka, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hisanobu Ooyama, Hiroyuki Takahashi
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Publication number: 20150174590Abstract: A centrifuge including a rotor, a rotor chamber having an opening, a motor, a door configured to close the opening, an input/output unit configured to receive an input of an operating condition and to display an operating status, and a housing accommodating therein the rotor, the rotor chamber, the motor, the door and the input/output unit, wherein the housing has the opening at an upper surface thereof, wherein a light emitting part having a horizontal width longer than the opening is provided in the vicinity of a corner portion at which the upper surface and a front surface of the housing intersect with each other or in the vicinity of a front side of the opening, and wherein a light emitting form of the light emitting part is configured to be changed depending on the operating status.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Tadashi Ohkawara, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroshi Hayasaka, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hisanobu Ooyama, Hiroyuki Takahashi
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Patent number: 7643236Abstract: A centrifugal machine comprises a rotor drivable and rotatable by a motor while holding a specimen, and including a recording medium for recording data therein; a Peltier element, when a voltage is applied thereto, for controlling the temperature of the rotor; a recording head disposed at a position adjacent to the rotor for reproducing data from the recording medium or for recording data into the recording medium; and, a control device not only for controlling the operation of the Peltier element when the Peltier element controls the temperature of the rotor but also for controlling the operation of the recording head when the recording head reproduces the data from the recording medium or records the data into the recording medium, wherein the control device, when carrying out the data reproduction or data recording with respect to the recording medium provided in the rotor, controls the Peltier element in such a manner that the operation of the Peltier element is caused to stop.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Ohkawara
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Patent number: 7618589Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Publication number: 20080174909Abstract: A centrifugal machine comprises a rotor drivable and rotatable by a motor while holding a specimen, and including a recording medium for recording data therein; a Peltier element, when a voltage is applied thereto, for controlling the temperature of the rotor; a recording head disposed at a position adjacent to the rotor for reproducing data from the recording medium or for recording data into the recording medium; and, a control device not only for controlling the operation of the Peltier element when the Peltier element controls the temperature of the rotor but also for controlling the operation of the recording head when the recording head reproduces the data from the recording medium or records the data into the recording medium, wherein the control device, when carrying out the data reproduction or data recording with respect to the recording medium provided in the rotor, controls the Peltier element in such a manner that the operation of the Peltier element is caused to stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventor: Tadashi OHKAWARA
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Patent number: 7390460Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Patent number: 7374720Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Patent number: 7169362Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system requiring minimum installation area, helping to avoid waste of various reagents, and making it possible to perform dispensing the various reagents in the shortest possible time. The microplate liquid handling system has a main frame body provided with a moving mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. On the stage, a microplate, two dispensing tip containers, and two reagent vessels are mounted. Formed in the microplate are 12×8 wells, i.e., 96 wells in total, arranged in matrix. The microplate, the dispensing tip containers, and the reagent vessels are substantially of the same, rectangular configuration. Each of the two dispensing tip containers is capable of accommodating 12×8 dispensing tips in total in a matrix fashion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
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Patent number: 7101511Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system capable of automatically performing both longitudinal collective suction/discharge and lateral collective suction/discharge on a single microplate. The microplate liquid handling system has a main body equipped with a moving device, a rotating mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. Connected to the moving device is the dispensing mechanism for performing dispensing on wells in a microplate on the stage through the rotating mechanism. A plurality of cylinders are arranged in a row in the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is capable of moving forwards and backwards and to the right and left with respect to the main body, and is rotatable about a vertically directed rotation axis, making it possible to change the direction of the cylinder array from origin position to 90 degrees position and vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
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Publication number: 20060051246Abstract: An automatic dispenser includes a dispensing head, a transporter, a controller, sensors, and an adjustor. The dispensing head accommodates a plurality of dispensing tips and draws liquid into and ejects liquid from the dispensing tips. The transporter moves the dispensing head within an XYZ space. The controller controls drawing and ejecting of liquid by the dispensing head and movement of the dispensing head by the transporter. The sensors detect whether dispensing tips are mounted in the dispensing head. The adjustor aligns the reference positions of the dispensing head and the sensors in the XY plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Publication number: 20040208795Abstract: In order to eliminate any mistakes regarding attachment or removal of dispensing tips to and from a dispensing head provided in an automatic liquid handling system used for dispensing an object to be examined, reagent, enzymes or the like into wells of a microplate, a dispensing tip sensor is provided to sense if the dispensing tips are attached to the head. The sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are disposed above and diagonally opposite positions of a disposal container in which used dispensing tips are disposed of. The dispensing head with some dispensing tips attached thereto moves to traverse the light path of the sensor, thereby enabling sensing of the dispensing tips attached to the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Publication number: 20040096360Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system requiring minimum installation area, helping to avoid waste of various reagents, and making it possible to perform dispensing the various reagents in the shortest possible time. The microplate liquid handling system has a main frame body provided with a moving mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. On the stage, a microplate, two dispensing tip containers, and two reagent vessels are mounted. Formed in the microplate are 12×8 wells, i.e., 96 wells in total, arranged in matrix. The microplate, the dispensing tip containers, and the reagent vessels are substantially of the same, rectangular configuration. Each of the two dispensing tip containers is capable of accommodating 12×8 dispensing tips in total in a matrix fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
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Publication number: 20040094575Abstract: A microplate liquid handling system capable of automatically performing both longitudinal collective suction/discharge and lateral collective suction/discharge on a single microplate. The microplate liquid handling system has a main body equipped with a moving device, a rotating mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, and a stage. Connected to the moving device is the dispensing mechanism for performing dispensing on wells in a microplate on the stage through the rotating mechanism. A plurality of cylinders are arranged in a row in the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is capable of moving forwards and backwards and to the right and left with respect to the main body, and is rotatable about a vertically directed rotation axis, making it possible to change the direction of the cylinder array from origin position to 90 degrees position and vice versa.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
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Publication number: 20040096365Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, the operator cannot just set dispensing tips in all the fixing holes of the dispensing tip container. It is necessary to carry out the time-consuming task of deciding in advance on a suitable arrangement of positions for the dispensing tips. It is also necessary for the operator to carry out the time-consuming task of determining in advance the quantity of reagent used and how the reagent is to be arranged. These problems are solved by providing a control device that includes a dispensing tip arrangement calculator and reagent quantity and arrangement calculator, and that can inform the operator of these results. The dispensing tip arrangement, the reagent quantity used, and the reagent arrangement is calculated from the information set in advance on specific reagent, the quantity of reagent dispensed into one well of the microplate, the range of wells in the microplate into which reagent is dispensed, and the direction of dispensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Publication number: 20040096366Abstract: In reagent reaction experiments using microplates, a desired period of time can be set for determining the time to introduce a reaction stop solution after introduction of a reagent. The set time is measured starting from the introduction of the reagent and the reaction stop solution is introduced immediately after expiration of the set time. A control device for an automatic liquid handling system having the above-described reaction time managing feature is also provided with a self-diagnosing function that is capable of determining whether scheduled processes are executable or not during the time set before execution of the processes and informing an operator of the results of determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
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Patent number: 6338708Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor and a drive device for rotating the rotor. A support frame is located between the rotor and the drive device. A viscoelastic member is provided between the support frame and the drive device. A locating device operates for locating the drive device in an axial direction. The locating device may include a suspension connecting the support frame and a bottom of the drive device. Preferably, the suspension includes one of a wire rope and a piano wire.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2000Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Miura, Tadashi Ohkawara, Shinki Ohtsu
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Patent number: D752769Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Hasegawa, Tadashi Ohkawara