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).

  • Patent number: 10252279
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ohkawara, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroshi Hayasaka, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hisanobu Ooyama, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150174590
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Tadashi Ohkawara, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroshi Hayasaka, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hisanobu Ooyama, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7643236
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 7618589
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20080174909
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Tadashi OHKAWARA
  • Patent number: 7390460
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 7374720
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 7169362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7101511
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20060051246
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Masataka Morita, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20040208795
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Hidetaka Osawa, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20040096360
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20040094575
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara, Masashi Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20040096365
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Toi, Hidetaka Osawa, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20040096366
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Hidetaka Osawa, Hiroatsu Toi, Kenji Yamada, Tadashi Ohkawara
  • Patent number: 6338708
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Miura, Tadashi Ohkawara, Shinki Ohtsu
  • Patent number: D752769
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Hasegawa, Tadashi Ohkawara