Patents by Inventor Yutaka Aihara
Yutaka Aihara 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: 10469702Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions. The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image data and writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unit forms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memory unit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copying conditions when a new copying condition is set during the image forming of the image data written into the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yutaka Aihara
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Patent number: 10272451Abstract: To provide a spout apparatus which is easily maintainable by a user even when, in a fluid device utilizing Karman vortices, scale adheres to the Karman vortex generating portion. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water while causing it to reciprocally oscillate, having a spout apparatus body and an oscillating element; whereby the oscillating element has a water supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage; the spout port passage is formed of an elastically deformable soft member and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate the spout port passage to deform it; and the vortex generating passage is formed of an elastically deformable soft member, and is integrally formed with the spout port passage so that deformations of the spout port passage can be transmitted to this vortex generating passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata, Masateru Miyazaki, Yutaka Aihara, Shuhei Hayata, Kei Watanabe, Nao Tanizaki, Hiroshi Nishijima
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Patent number: 10071386Abstract: To provide a spout apparatus whereby expansion and deformation of the inner wall surface of the vortex generating portion such that a desired Karman vortex cannot be generated are prevented, even when the port portion is formed of an elastically deformable soft member. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water with reciprocal motion, having a spout apparatus body and a vortex generating passage; whereby the oscillating element has a supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage, and the spout port passage is formed by an elastically deformable soft member, and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate and deform the spout port passage, and the vortex generating passage is formed so as not to expand and deform even if internal pressure rises due to the supply of hot or cold water from the supply passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata, Masateru Miyazaki, Yutaka Aihara, Shuhei Hayata, Kei Watanabe, Nao Tanizaki, Hiroshi Nishijima
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Publication number: 20180198946Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions. The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image data and writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unit forms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memory unit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copying conditions when a new copying condition is set during the image forming of the image data written into the memory unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventor: Yutaka AIHARA
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Patent number: 9912832Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions. The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image data and writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unit forms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memory unit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copying conditions when a new copying condition is set during the image forming of the image data written into the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yutaka Aihara
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Publication number: 20170165687Abstract: To provide a spout apparatus which is easily maintainable by a user even when, in a fluid device utilizing Karman vortices, scale adheres to the Karman vortex generating portion. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water while causing it to reciprocally oscillate, having a spout apparatus body and an oscillating element; whereby the oscillating element has a water supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage; the spout port passage is formed of an elastically deformable soft member and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate the spout port passage to deform it; and the vortex generating passage is formed of an elastically deformable soft member, and is integrally formed with the spout port passage so that deformations of the spout port passage can be transmitted to this vortex generating passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Katsuya NAGATA, Masateru MIYAZAKI, Yutaka AIHARA, Shuhei HAYATA, Kei WATANABE, Nao TANIZAKI, Hiroshi NISHIJIMA
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Publication number: 20170165688Abstract: To provide a spout apparatus whereby expansion and deformation of the inner wall surface of the vortex generating portion such that a desired Karman vortex cannot be generated are prevented, even when the port portion is formed of an elastically deformable soft member. A spout apparatus for discharging hot or cold water with reciprocal motion, having a spout apparatus body and a vortex generating passage; whereby the oscillating element has a supply passage, a vortex generating passage, and a spout port passage, and the spout port passage is formed by an elastically deformable soft member, and is attached to the spout apparatus body so that a user can manipulate and deform the spout port passage, and the vortex generating passage is formed so as not to expand and deform even if internal pressure rises due to the supply of hot or cold water from the supply passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Katsuya NAGATA, Masateru MIYAZAKI, Yutaka AIHARA, Shuhei HAYATA, Kei WATANABE, Nao TANIZAKI, Hiroshi NISHIJIMA
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Patent number: 9370785Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20160050337Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, and a setting changing unit. The setting unit sets copying conditions. The image reading unit reads images from sheets to generate image data and writes the image data into a memory unit. The image forming unit forms images on sheets based on the image data written into the memory unit. The setting changing unit changes the setting of the copying conditions when a new copying condition is set during the image forming of the image data written into the memory unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventor: YUTAKA AIHARA
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Patent number: 9220376Abstract: A shower apparatus F1 includes a water supply unit 21; a throttle unit 22 installed downstream of the water supply unit 21 and adapted to eject passing water downstream; an aeration unit 23 provided with an opening 231 adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit 22; and a nozzle unit 24 provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 243 adapted to discharge the bubbly water, wherein a virtual water ejection straight line obtained by extending an ejection direction of the water ejected through the throttle unit 22 reaches a location where the nozzle holes 243 are formed, without interfering with inner walls of the aeration unit 23 and the nozzle unit 24.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 9175460Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably produce and supply bubbly water to nozzle holes, causing finely divided water droplets of relatively large, uniform size to land continuously on a user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein an ejection speed changing means is installed in the water supply unit to at least partially vary ejection speeds of the water ejected from respective throttle channels of the plurality of throttle channels of the throttle unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 9108207Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20150108255Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Patent number: 8720795Abstract: Providing a flush bowl capable of discharging a planar shower-like water discharge flow in a wide range while changing the water discharge trajectory is directed. The shower device according to an embodiment of the invention is a shower device including: a water discharger including a plurality of water discharge ports; a rotator including a channel at its center; a coupling section coupling the inside of the water discharger to the channel of the rotator; a receiving section receiving the rotator; a driving mechanism configured to rotate and revolve the rotator in the receiving section; and a decelerating section provided inside the water discharger.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Toto LtdInventors: Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai
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Publication number: 20130239320Abstract: Provided is a water passage switching device capable of opening and closing valves by a very easy operation. The water passage switching device (10; 122) of the present invention capable of switching between at least three water spouting and stopping modes by opening and closing valves including: valve elements (26a, 26b, 26c; 142) configured to be moved between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position in response to the each water spouting and stopping mode; a pivotally movable tilting operation member (6; 112) directly operated by a user to switch between the each water spouting and stopping mode; and valve actuating rods (40a, 40b, 40c; 148) arranged around a pivot point of the tilting operation member, and each adapted to open and close a respective one of the plurality of valve elements based on a tilting movement in each direction of the tilting operation member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Yutaka Aihara, Yasufumi Uemura, Masaya Tanabe, Tsuyoshi Miura, Sho Ishiyama, Tomohiro Kudo, Hideyuki Matsui, Daisuke Kazaoka
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Patent number: 8444065Abstract: An object is to provide a water discharge device in which a water sprinkling member having water discharge ports can simultaneously achieve both good rotation start-up ability and good rotation stability. A water discharge device FC is configured in such a manner that the center of gravity of a rotor constituted of a tubular body 20 and a head 40 (the water sprinkling member) is positioned near an opening 4 which is located near the center of swing at which a central axis C1 of the tubular body 20 tilted by swinging revolution and a central axis C2 of an inflow chamber 3 intersect in a state where any water is not supplied to a buffer chamber 43 of the head 40, whereas the center of gravity of the rotor is moved to a head 40 side in a state where the water is supplied to the buffer chamber 43 of the head 40.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Aihara, Minoru Sato, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai
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Patent number: 8091158Abstract: A shower bathing apparatus is described as including a seat and a first water discharger provided rearward and upward in relation to the seat. The first water discharger is configured to discharge water in a direction forward of the seat. A water discharge direction from the first water discharger and a positional relationship between the first water discharger and the seat may be adjustable so that the water discharged from the first water discharger is able to reach the seat or forward of the seat. The water discharged from the first water discharger may further flow from above a seat occupant's shoulder to the seat occupant's leg.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Toto, Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Tomohisa Kato
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Publication number: 20110284662Abstract: A shower apparatus F1 includes a water supply unit 21; a throttle unit 22 installed downstream of the water supply unit 21 and adapted to eject passing water downstream; an aeration unit 23 provided with an opening 231 adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit 22; and a nozzle unit 24 provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 243 adapted to discharge the bubbly water, wherein a virtual water ejection straight line obtained by extending an ejection direction of the water ejected through the throttle unit 22 reaches a location where the nozzle holes 243 are formed, without interfering with inner walls of the aeration unit 23 and the nozzle unit 24.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2009Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20110198416Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20110198415Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably produce and supply bubbly water to nozzle holes, causing finely divided water droplets of relatively large, uniform size to land continuously on a user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein an ejection speed changing means is installed in the water supply unit to at least partially vary ejection speeds of the water ejected from respective throttle channels of the plurality of throttle channels of the throttle unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA