Apparatus for and methods of handling biological sample containers
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01N-035/04
C12M-001/26
출원번호
US-0133904
(2002-04-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Haslam,James Keith
Noble,Paul
Ebel,Keith Melvin
출원인 / 주소
Genetix Limited
대리인 / 주소
Foley &
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
15인용 특허 :
25
초록▼
Apparatus for handling biological sample containers comprises a conveyor assembly for conveying containers and a lid handling assembly operable to remove lids from and replace lids onto containers while the containers are in motion on the conveyor assembly. The lid handling assembly comprises a pair
Apparatus for handling biological sample containers comprises a conveyor assembly for conveying containers and a lid handling assembly operable to remove lids from and replace lids onto containers while the containers are in motion on the conveyor assembly. The lid handling assembly comprises a pair of ramps onto which a lid is lifted by a lifting mechanism configured to handle overhanging lids or non-overhanging lids as required. The lid handling assembly may be configured to handle lids of containers of various sizes by altering the ramp spacing. A conveyor assembly comprises a pair of converging rails which carry a pair of jaws operable to carry a container. The convergence of the rails makes the jaws clamp the container so that it is held tightly in position for micro-arraying to be carried out. The conveyor assembly may be adapted to handle different sizes of container by the provision of holders to hold various container types.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for handling biological sample containers each having a lid, the apparatus comprising: (a) a conveyor assembly operable to convey containers between a first position and a second position; and (b) a lid handling assembly operable to remove lids from containers being
What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for handling biological sample containers each having a lid, the apparatus comprising: (a) a conveyor assembly operable to convey containers between a first position and a second position; and (b) a lid handling assembly operable to remove lids from containers being conveyed through the lid handling assembly from the first position to the second position, and to replace the lids onto containers being conveyed through the lid handling assembly from the second position to the first position, wherein: (i) lid removal and replacement being effected by mechanical interaction between the lids and the lid handling assembly as the containers are conveyed through the lid handling assembly, and (ii) the lid handling assembly comprises a pair of rotatable rollers arranged such that the conveyor assembly conveys a container between the pair of rollers from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position, each roller having an axis of rotation inclined with respect to a perpendicular to a plane in which the containers are conveyed, the rollers operable to grip the lid of a container being conveyed between the rollers from the first position to the second position and feed the lid in a forwardly and upwardly direction. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid handling assembly further comprises a pair of ramps arranged such that the conveyor assembly conveys a container between the pair of ramps from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position, the ramps sloping upward from lower ramp ends facing towards the first position and arranged such that they pass under side walls of the lid of a container being conveyed between the pair of ramps from the first position to the second position, wherein the rotatable rollers are located in front of each lower ramp end, the rollers being operable to direct the lid over the lower ramp ends. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the rollers are biased towards one another to provide enhanced engagement of the rollers with the lid. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the pair of ramps is arranged such that a lid removed from its container sits on the ramps at a height at which a lowest part of the lid engages with a container being conveyed between the ramps from the second position to the first position so that the container pulls the lid down the ramp until the lid falls onto the container. 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the ramps have a length sufficient to accommodate the lids of at least two containers and the conveying apparatus is operable to convey at least two containers from the first position to the second position between the pair of ramps before conveying either container from the second position to the first position. 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the lid handling assembly further comprises one or more retainers operable to retain a lid or lids on the pair of ramps until the lid or lids is replaced on a container. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the one or more retainers comprises a movable abutment on at least one of the ramps of the pair of ramps which inhibits a lid or lids on the pair of ramps from sliding down the ramps. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the one or more retainers comprise a spring-loaded hinged arm arranged above the pair of ramps and biased to push downwardly on a lid held on the ramps. 9. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which each ramp has a portion having a steeper gradient than a subsequent portion, to provide rapid initial lifting of a lid. 10. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which each ramp has a portion having a shallower gradient than a subsequent portion, to encourage a lid to slide down the ramps under gravity. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each roller is pivotably mounted and biased towards the opposite roller, to enhance the grip of the pair of rollers upon the lid. 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising one or more additional pairs of rollers arranged parallel to and rearwardly and upwardly from the first-mentioned pair of rollers such that a gripped lid can be fed from roller pair to roller pair as the container is conveyed between the rollers. 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid-handling assembly is removably mounted on the conveyor assembly. 14. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid handling assembly is configured to handle biological sample containers having the form of Q-trays. 15. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid handling assembly is configured to handle biological sample containers having the form of omni-trays. 16. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid handling assembly is configured to handle biological sample containers having the form of petri dishes. 17. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the lid handling assembly is configured to handle biological sample containers having the form of well plates. 18. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising one or more additional conveyor assemblies and lid handling assemblies, and operable to convey, remove lids from, and replace lids onto, a plurality of containers simultaneously. 19. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a storage assembly operable to store a plurality of containers, to supply any of the stored containers to the first position for the container to be conveyed to the second position, and to remove the container from the first position after it has been conveyed from the second position to the first position. 20. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the conveyor is further operable to convey containers from the first position to a third position after the containers have been conveyed from the second position to the first position. 21. Apparatus according to claim 20, and further comprising a release mechanism operable to release a single container from a stack of containers stored in a first storage cassette removably mounted on the apparatus and to locate the single container at the first position. 22. Apparatus according to claim 21, in which the release mechanism comprises an escapement mechanism comprising a pair of escapement members arranged one on each side of the first position and pivotable movable about horizontal axes between one position in which the escapement members supports the stack of containers from beneath, a further position in which the escapement members grip the penultimate container in the stack and supports the lowest container in the stack from beneath, and a yet further position in which the escapement members grip the penultimate container while letting the lowest container fall into the first position. 23. Apparatus according to claim 21, in which the release mechanism comprises: (a) a pair of grippers operable to support the stack of containers by gripping at least the lowest container in the stack from two opposite sides; and (b) a vertically movable support device arranged below the stack of containers and which is movable between a retracted position located substantially at the same height as the first position, (c) a support position in which the support device support the stack from below by contacting the lowest container supported by the pair of grippers, and (d) an intermediate position separated from the support position by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a single container. 24. Apparatus according to claim 23, in which the intermediate position can be adjusted so that the release mechanism can release and locate containers of different thicknesses. 25. Apparatus according to claim 23, and further comprising a piston assembly operable to move the support device between the retracted position, the intermediate position and the support position, the piston assembly comprising a main piston operable to move the support device between the retracted position and the support position, and at least one subsidiary piston operable to locate the support device in the intermediate position. 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, and further comprising an adjustable abutment having portions of different thickness and operable to determine the movement of the subsidiary piston so as to alter the intermediate position in which the subsidiary piston locates the support device. 27. Apparatus according to claim 23, in which the grippers comprise a pair of opposed vertical plates operable to move towards and away from each other in a horizontal direction. 28. Apparatus according to claim 20, and further comprising a lifting device operable to transfer a container from the third position into a second storage cassette removably mounted on the apparatus. 29. Apparatus according to claim 20, in which the lid handling assembly is configured to handle for biological sample containers having the form of well plates. 30. Apparatus according to claim 20, and further comprising one or more additional conveyor assemblies and lid handling assemblies, and operable to convey, remove lids from, and replace lids onto a plurality of containers simultaneously. 31. An apparatus for working with biological material, comprising: (a) a work surface; (b) a first container handling apparatus, for handling biological sample containers containing biological material, comprising: (i) a storage assembly operable to store containers, deliver containers to a first pick-up position, and remove containers from the first pick-up position; (ii) a first conveyor assembly operable to convey containers between the first pick-up position and a first working position on the work surface; and (iii) a first lid-handling assembly operable to remove lids from containers as they are conveyed through the first lid handling assembly from the first pick-up position to a first arraying position and to replace the lids onto the containers as they are conveyed through the first lid handling assembly from the first arraying position to the first pick-up position, wherein lid removal and replacement is effected by mechanical interaction between the lids and the first lid handling assembly as the containers are conveyed through the first lid handling assembly; (c) a second container handling apparatus, for handling well plates, comprising: (i) a well plate release mechanism operable to release well plates from a first storage cassette containing a stack of well plates and to deliver them to a second pick-up position; (ii) a second conveyor assembly operable to convey well plates from the second pick-up position to a second working position on the work surface and from the second working position to a return position; (iii) a second lid-handling assembly operable to remove lids from well-plates as they are conveyed through the second lid handling assembly from the second pick-up position to the second working position and to replace the lids onto the well-plates as they are conveyed through the second lid handling assembly from the second working position to the return position, wherein lid removal and replacement are effected by mechanical interaction between the lids and the second lid handling assembly as the containers are conveyed through the second lid handling assembly; and (iv) a well plate loading mechanism operable to transfer well plates from the return position into a second storage cassette; and (v) a head carrying a plurality of pins or pipettes operable to move over the work surface, pick up material from containers in the first working position and deposit the material in well plates in the second working position. 32. A method of handling biological sample containers each having a lid, the method comprising: (a) conveying a container with a lid from a first position through a lid handling assembly; (b) arranging a first mechanical interaction between the lid and the lid handling assembly as the container is conveyed through the lid handling assembly which removes the lid from the container; (c) conveying the container without its lid to a second position; (d) conveying the container without its lid from the second position through the lid handling assembly; (e) arranging a second mechanical interaction between the lid and the lid handling assembly as the container is conveyed through the lid handling assembly which replaces the lid onto the container; and (f) conveying the container with its lid back to the first position, wherein the first mechanical interaction is effected by conveying the container between at least one pair of rotatable rollers having parallel axes of rotation inclined with respect to a plane in which the containers are conveyed, each roller being biased towards the opposite roller, and arranged to grip the lid as the container is conveyed through the lid handling assembly and feed the lid in a forwardly and upwardly direction. 33. A method according to claim 32, in which the first mechanical interaction further is effected by conveying the container between a pair of ramps having lower ramp ends which face towards the first position and are arranged to pass under side walls of the lid of the container as the container is conveyed through the lid handling assembly, wherein at least one pair of rotatable rollers is located in front of lower ends of the pair of ramps, and arranged to engage the lid as the container is conveyed through the lid handling assembly and to direct the lid onto the ramps.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (25)
Haslam, James Keith; Noble, Paul, Apparatus for and methods of handling biological sample containers.
Panetz Allen I. (St. James NY) Gordon Richard D. (Sayville NY) Farooqi Mohammad A. (Brentwood NY) Cosmo Guy A. (So. Setauket NY) Cosmo Nicholas (Garden City Park NY), Apparatus for automatically separating a compound from a plurality of discrete liquid specimens.
Farber Glenn L. (Port Jefferson NY) Navarro Maria C. (North Masssapequa NY) Hegemann Manfred K. (Nyack NY) Cohen Samuel G. (Pleasantville NY) Cox Cameron O. (Monsey NY), Automated microbiological testing apparatus.
Gordinier Richard H. (Centereach NY) Duff Ronald G. (East Moriches NY) Newmann Dawn D. (East Moriches NY), Selecting amounts of platelet releasate for efficacious treatment of tissue.
Stylli Chari ; Beckey Samuel S. ; Shumate Christopher Bentley ; Coassin Peter J., Systems and methods for rapidly identifying useful chemicals in liquid samples.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.