Patents by Inventor Yoshitaka Niinai

Yoshitaka Niinai 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: 8262551
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Ooyama
  • Publication number: 20090170683
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Katsunori AKATSU, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Ooyama
  • Patent number: 7367932
    Abstract: A structure in which when a rotating member is broken, an impact force is prevented from being concentrated to a local portion by enabling to receive a debris by a wide area at an instant and breaking energy can further be facilitated to consume. Further, according to a centrifuge attached with a cooler, the problem can be achieved to resolve by utilizing an insulating layer at an outer periphery of an evaporator as a space of deforming a guard cylinder when the rotating member is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Niinai
  • Patent number: 7278961
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator is configured such that a switching unit adapted to be brought into electrical conduction or into electrical nonconduction is electrically connected between a motor housing and a motor-ground connection wire, and that the switching unit is controlled to be brought into nonconduction when a door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Masahiro Inaniwa, Yoshitaka Niinai
  • Patent number: 7255669
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a frame, a damper connected to and supported on the frame for isolating vibrations, a drive unit connected to and supported by the damper, a swing-bucket rotor rotated by the drive unit, an accelerometer for detecting when part of the drive unit contacts part of the frame due to vibrations of the drive unit exceeding a predetermined amplitude, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit based on output from the accelerometer. When amplitude of vibrations in the drive unit exceeds a predetermined value, a portion of the drive unit contacts a portion of the frame. The accelerometer detects an impact caused by the contact between the drive unit and the frame. The drive unit is halted when output detected from the accelerometer exceeds a threshold value for detecting imbalances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimizu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Shoji Kusumoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7108651
    Abstract: In a centrifugal chamber 9, an elastic rotation shaft 30 and a high-rigidity rotation shaft 34 extend coaxially. When a rotor selected from an angle rotor 17 and a swing rotor 36 which have different sizes and shapes is set in the centrifugal chamber 9, an optimal shaft is connected automatically to the selected rotor. The angle rotor 17 having a low tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported and rotated by the elastic rotation shaft 30 for high-speed rotation. The swing rotor 34 having a high tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported by the high-rigidity shaft 34 for low-speed rotation. Rotation torque is transmitted to the swing rotor 34 from the elastic rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Koko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Konno, Yoshitaka Niinai, Masahiro Miura, Shoji Kusumoto, Takahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7104944
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator facilitates maintenance with a function that provides the user with useful data for investigating the causes of failures and for preventing their recurrence, such as data needed to determine the appropriate management and replacement frequency of consumable parts. The centrifugal separator also has a storing unit for recording the number of times that the door is opened and closed, operation records of the drive unit by each shaft, and the number of operations performed by operating function, as well as a display unit for displaying the data. The centrifugal separator also includes a function for displaying messages prompting the user to perform maintenance when the aforementioned performance data reach a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujimaki, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Shoji Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20060178253
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator is configured such that a switching unit adapted to be brought into electrical conduction or into electrical nonconduction is electrically connected between a motor housing and a motor-ground connection wire, and that the switching unit is controlled to be brought into nonconduction when a door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Masahiro Inaniwa, Yoshitaka Niinai
  • Publication number: 20050272587
    Abstract: A structure in which when a rotating member is broken, an impact force is prevented from being concentrated to a local portion by enabling to receive a debris by a wide area at an instant and breaking energy can further be facilitated to consume. Further, according to a centrifuge attached with a cooler, the problem can be achieved to resolve by utilizing an insulating layer at an outer periphery of an evaporator as a space of deforming a guard cylinder when the rotating member is broken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Niinai
  • Publication number: 20050153823
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator facilitates maintenance with a function that provides the user with useful data for investigating the causes of failures and for preventing their recurrence, such as data needed to determine the appropriate management and replacement frequency of consumable parts. The centrifugal separator also has a storing unit for recording the number of times that the door is opened and closed, operation records of the drive unit by each shaft, and the number of operations performed by operating function, as well as a display unit for displaying the data. The centrifugal separator also includes a function for displaying messages prompting the user to perform maintenance when the aforementioned performance data reach a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujimaki, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Shoji Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20050079064
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a frame, a damper connected to and supported on the frame for isolating vibrations, a drive unit connected to and supported by the damper, a swing-bucket rotor rotated by the drive unit, an accelerometer for detecting when part of the drive unit contacts part of the frame due to vibrations of the drive unit exceeding a predetermined amplitude, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit based on output from the accelerometer. When amplitude of vibrations in the drive unit exceeds a predetermined value, a portion of the drive unit contacts a portion of the frame. The accelerometer detects an impact caused by the contact between the drive unit and the frame. The drive unit is halted when output detected from the accelerometer exceeds a threshold value for detecting imbalances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimizu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Shoji Kusumoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6764437
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor, and a motor for rotating the rotor. At least three identification elements provided on the rotor are arranged along a circumference of a circle whose center coincides with an axis of rotation of the rotor. An angular interval between prescribed two of the at least three identification elements indicates a maximum allowable rotational speed of the rotor. One or more of the at least three identification elements indicates a type of the rotor. A sensor operates for detecting the at least three identification elements during rotation of the rotor. The angular interval between the prescribed two of the at least three identification elements is measured in response to an output signal from the sensor to detect the maximum allowable rotational speed of the rotor. The type of the rotor is detected in response to the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masahiro Inaniwa, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040138041
    Abstract: In a centrifugal chamber 9, an elastic rotation shaft 30 and a high-rigidity rotation shaft 34 extend coaxially. When a rotor selected from an angle rotor 17 and a swing rotor 36 which have different sizes and shapes is set in the centrifugal chamber 9, an optimal shaft is connected automatically to the selected rotor. The angle rotor 17 having a low tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported and rotated by the elastic rotation shaft 30 for high-speed rotation. The swing rotor 34 having a high tendency toward mass eccentricity is supported by the high-rigidity shaft 34 for low-speed rotation. Rotation torque is transmitted to the swing rotor 34 from the elastic rotation shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Tatsuya Konno, Yoshitaka Niinai, Masahiro Miura, Shoji Kusumoto, Takahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6589152
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Oyama, Takayuki Watahiki
  • Publication number: 20020147095
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsunori Akatsu, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hisanobu Oyama, Takayuki Watahiki
  • Patent number: 6416455
    Abstract: A rotor for centrifugal separation of liquid specimens introduced on a microplates or a collective unit of microtubes in form of microplates (box type specimen holder) under centrifugal acceleration. Within the rotor, specimen receptacle are placed in radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, the box type specimen holder is placed in each of the specimen receptacles, and there is provided a member for preventing the box type specimen holder from falling down, or a pad is arranged between the box type specimen holder and inner wall in parallel to the axis of rotation, and centrifugal force to be applied on the box type specimen holder is received by the pad, which is designed in such shape as to approximately follow the shape of the outer wall, and centrifugal separation can be performed with the specimen receptacle inserted from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Hirachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Aizawa, Jun Sato, Yoshitaka Niinai
  • Publication number: 20020042334
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor, and a motor for rotating the rotor. At least three identification elements provided on the rotor are arranged along a circumference of a circle whose center coincides with an axis of rotation of the rotor. An angular interval between prescribed two of the at least three identification elements indicates a maximum allowable rotational speed of the rotor. One or more of the at least three identification elements indicates a type of the rotor. A sensor operates for detecting the at least three identification elements during rotation of the rotor. The angular interval between the prescribed two of the at least three identification elements is measured in response to an output signal from the sensor to detect the maximum allowable rotational speed of the rotor. The type of the rotor is detected in response to the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tetsu, Masahiro Inaniwa, Yoshitaka Niinai, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5738622
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator comprising: a rotor for containing a sample; a rotating unit; a detection circuit for detecting a distance between a reference position and a position of the rotor and generating a distance detection signal; a rectifying circuit for half-wave rectifying the distance detection signal; a judging circuit for judging the distance detection signal from the rectifying circuit; and a controller for controlling the rotating unit in accordance with a judging result of the judging circuit and a corresponding method are disclosed. The judging circuit judges whether the distance is in a balanced condition of or an unbalance condition of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Niinai, Shoji Kusumoto, Tsutomu Takamura, Noriyasu Matsufuji