Centrifuge loading apparatus, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016183-A1
Application number	US-201414774344-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a loading apparatus and system adapted to load unprocessed sample containers in a centrifuge and provide improved balance thereof. The apparatus has a staging platform containing at least two bucket inserts, a weight scale operable to determine a combined weight of each of the bucket inserts, a centrifuge configured to receive the bucket inserts as pairs, a robot operable to insert an unprocessed sample container into the bucket inserts, and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority empty receptacle of a lowest combined weight bucket insert. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of loading a centrifuge, comprising:
determining weights of bucket inserts; and placing an unprocessed sample container into a highest priority unoccupied receptacle location of a lowest weight bucket insert.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating a weight of the lowest weight bucket insert with the added unprocessed sample container placed in a database.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the unprocessed sample container into a lowest weight side of the lowest weight bucket insert.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising updating a weight of the sides of the bucket inserts in a database.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising evaluating a weight of all the bucket inserts that are ready for centrifuging.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising matching the two heaviest bucket inserts and the two lightest bucket inserts as bucket insert pairs to be loaded into the centrifuge.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
checking if the weight differences of each bucket insert pair are within a weight difference threshold.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
adjusting a weight of one or more of the bucket insert pair that is outside of the weight difference threshold.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting comprises:
adjusting a weight of one or more of the bucket insert pair that is outside of the weight difference threshold by rearranging unprocessed sample containers, or adding dummy weights.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising not adjusting a weight of one or more of the bucket insert pair in more than 50% of batches.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
checking a weight of sides of each of the bucket inserts of the bucket insert pairs, and rearranging unprocessed sample containers in sides of the bucket insert pairs if a weight of each of the sides are not within a predefined side weight difference threshold.

12 . A centrifuge loading system, comprising:
a staging platform containing bucket inserts; a weight scale coupled to the staging platform being operable to determine weight of each of the bucket inserts; a centrifuge adapted to receive the bucket inserts in bucket insert pairs; a robot operable to move an unprocessed sample container to one of the bucket inserts on the staging platform; and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority unoccupied receptacle location of a lowest weight bucket insert.

13 . The centrifuge loading system of claim 12 , wherein the robot is operable to move the bucket inserts between the staging platform and buckets of the centrifuge.

14 . The centrifuge loading system of claim 12 , wherein the controller determines a lowest weight side of the lowest weight bucket insert and the robot is operable to place the unprocessed sample container into the lowest weight side of the lowest weight bucket insert.

15 . The centrifuge loading system of claim 12 , wherein the controller determines a weight of each of the bucket inserts that is ready for centrifuging, matches the two heaviest bucket inserts and the two lightest bucket inserts as bucket insert pairs, and commands loading of the two heaviest bucket inserts and the two lightest bucket inserts as bucket insert pairs into the centrifuge.

16 . The centrifuge loading system of claim 12 , wherein the controller:
checks a weight of sides of each of the bucket inserts of the bucket insert pairs, and commands the robot to rearrange the sides of the bucket insert pairs if a weight of each of the sides is not within a predefined side weight difference threshold.

17 . A centrifuge loading apparatus, comprising:
a staging platform containing at least two bucket inserts; a weight scale operable to determine a weight of each of the bucket inserts; a centrifuge configured to receive the bucket inserts in at least one bucket insert pair; a robot operable to insert an unprocessed sample container into one of the at least two bucket inserts; and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority unoccupied receptacle of a lowest combined weight bucket insert.

18 . The centrifuge loading apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller determines placement of the unprocessed sample container into a side of the lowest combined weight bucket insert having a lowest side weight.

19 . The centrifuge loading apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller determines a highest priority unoccupied receptacle according to a schedule of priorities.

20 . The centrifuge loading apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the schedule of priorities includes, ranked highest priority to lowest priority:
positions radially offset from a centerline of a bucket insert, but closest to a center of a width of the bucket insert, positions on the centerline of the bucket insert, and positions radially offset from a centerline of a bucket insert, and offset in a width direction from a center of a width of the bucket insert.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics

Inventors

• Miller Kerry
• Sparks Steven

Classifications

• B04B5/0414 Primary

  comprising test tubes · CPC title

• B04B13/00

  Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Program control of centrifuges (control arrangements for feed, charge or discharge B04B11/00) · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B04B11/043 Primary

  Load indication with or without control arrangements · CPC title

• B04B2011/046

  Loading, unloading, manipulating sample containers · CPC title