Sample container handling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336547-B2
Application number	US-201715713728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A sample container handling device is presented. The device comprises a linear transport unit and a release unit comprising a release blade segment. The release blade segment is rotated in a constant rotational direction.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sample container handling device, the sample container device comprising:
a linear transport unit adapted to transport sample containers in horizontal orientation to a release position; and
a release unit comprising a release blade segment adapted to abut a respective sample container in the release position along a side line and to push the sample container away from the transport unit, wherein the release unit is configured to rotate the release blade segment around an axis such that a plurality of sample containers are sequentially pushed away from the linear transport unit while the release blade segment is rotating in a constant rotational direction and wherein the linear transport unit is configured to sequentially transport sample containers to the release position synchronized with the rotation of the release blade segment, wherein the release unit comprises a first sensor for sensing a rotational position of the release blade segment.

2. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the linear transport unit comprises two parallel belts adapted to move synchronously to transport the sample containers.

3. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the axis is a horizontal axis.

4. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the release unit comprises a further release blade segment, wherein the release blade segment and the further release blade segment are part of a flat release blade.

5. The sample container handling device according to claim 4 , wherein the axis is positioned between the release blade segment and the further release blade segment on the release blade.

6. The sample container handling device according to claim 4 , wherein each two release blade segments of a respective release blade have equivalent shapes.

7. The sample container handling device according to claim 4 , wherein the release blade segments or the release blades are made of aluminum or plastic material.

8. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the release unit comprises a plurality of release blades, each comprising two release blade segments.

9. The sample container handling device according to claim 8 , wherein the axis is positioned between each two release blade segments of each release blade.

10. The sample container handling device according to claim 8 , wherein the release blades are angularily oriented with equidistant angles.

11. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , further comprises
an oblique slide positioned adjacent to the release position such that a sample container pushed away from the linear transport unit slides downwardly along the oblique slide.

12. The sample container handling device according to claim 1 , wherein the linear transport unit comprises a second sensor for detecting presence of a sample container in the release position.

13. The sample container handling device according to claim 12 , wherein the release unit is configured to rotate the release blade segment responsive to the second sensor detecting presence of a sample container in the release position.

Assignees

• Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc

Inventors

• Meier Reto Andrin
• Iwan Alina

Classifications

• B65G43/08

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title

• B07C5/36

  Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title

• G01N35/04 Primary

  Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N2035/0465

  Loading or unloading the conveyor · CPC title