초록 ▼

A test tube pick system for picking and placing test tubes in a rack that includes a hand-held pick unit that communicates with a host device that assists in instructing the picking and placement of test tubes, the hand-held pick unit having a housing with a hand grip portion, a control portion with

A test tube pick system for picking and placing test tubes in a rack that includes a hand-held pick unit that communicates with a host device that assists in instructing the picking and placement of test tubes, the hand-held pick unit having a housing with a hand grip portion, a control portion with an actuator control and a display for displaying alphanumeric characters for pick and placement locations, a pick portion having four extending fingers with bent ends forming four parallel spaced end prongs, and an actuator mechanism that displaces and spreads at least two of the four end prongs when the actuator control is activated by a user.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hand-held pick unit for selecting, transporting and placing test tubes, the pick unit comprising: a housing having a hand-grip portion, a control portion and a pick portion, wherein: the hand-grip portion is ergonomically configured for convenient gripping, the contro

The invention claimed is: 1. A hand-held pick unit for selecting, transporting and placing test tubes, the pick unit comprising: a housing having a hand-grip portion, a control portion and a pick portion, wherein: the hand-grip portion is ergonomically configured for convenient gripping, the control portion has at least an actuator control operable by a user, and the pick portion has four extending finger members having bent ends, wherein the bent ends form four parallel spaced end prongs; and, an actuator mechanism contained in the housing and having an actuator member connected to two of the extending finger members and actuated by the actuator control, wherein on user operation of the actuator control, the actuator mechanism displaces the actuator member and the two extending finger members connected to the actuator member and displaces the end prongs of the displaced finger members relative to the other two end prongs, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a cam action guide that co-acts with the two displaceable finger members to spread the displaceable finger members when the displaceable finger members are displaced, and wherein the cam action guide comprises a bracket having oval holes and two displaceable finger members are slender rods arranged through the holes in contact with the bracket with constricted portions of the rods proximate the oval holes, wherein the constricted portions allow the finger members to spread when the finger members are displaced and the constricted portions locate in the oval holes in contact with the bracket. 2. The hand-held pick unit of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism is electronically controlled, the pick unit having a power source and the actuator mechanism having a solenoid with a displaceable core rod connected to the actuator member and to the two displaceable finger members, wherein the power source is connected to the actuator control and to the solenoid wherein user operation of the actuator control activates the solenoid, displaces the two extending finger members connected to the actuator member of the actuator mechanism and further spaces the end prongs on the two displaced finger members from the other two end prongs. 3. The hand-held pick unit of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a spring mechanism that returns the prongs to a gripping position when the actuator mechanism is de-activated by the user. 4. The hand-held pick unit of claim 3, wherein the cam action guide includes a retainer bracket and a compression spring, wherein the compression spring is located between the displaceable finger members in contact with the displaceable finger members and is retained in position by the retainer bracket. 5. A hand-held pick unit for selecting, transporting and placing test tubes, the pick unit comprising: a housing having a hand-grip portion, a control portion and a pick portion, wherein: the hand-grip portion is ergonomically configured for convenient gripping, the control portion has at least an actuator control operable by a user, and the pick portion has four extending finger members having bent ends, wherein the bent ends form four parallel spaced end prongs; and, an actuator mechanism contained in the housing and having an actuator member connected to two of the extending finger members and actuated by the actuator control, wherein on user operation of the actuator control, the actuator mechanism displaces the actuator member and the two extending finger members connected to the actuator member and displaces the end prongs of the displaced finger members relative to the other two end prongs wherein the actuator mechanism is electronically controlled, the pick unit having a power source and the actuator mechanism having the actuator member electronically displaceable, wherein the power source is connected to the actuator control and to the actuator mechanism, wherein user operation of the actuator control activates the actuator mechanism and displaces the actuator member and connected finger members wherein the control portion of the housing has at least one display adapted to display alphanumeric characters. 6. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, wherein the power source is remote from the pick unit and connected to the pick unit by a cable. 7. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, wherein the power source comprises a power pack in the housing of the hand-held pick unit. 8. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, wherein the alphanumeric characters represent one of the test tube locations where a tube is to be selected and where a tube is to be placed. 9. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, wherein the control portion of the housing has a pair of displays adapted to display alphanumeric characters, wherein one display displays alphanumeric characters representing the source of a test tube to be picked and the other display displays alphanumeric characters representing the destination of a test tube to be placed. 10. The hand-held pick unit of claim 9, wherein the control portion of the housing includes control switches that change the alphanumeric characters in the displays. 11. The hand-held pick unit of claim 10, wherein the pick unit is part of a test tube pick system that includes a computer that communicates with the hand-held pick unit and coordinates the routine for picking and placing test tubes. 12. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, wherein the power source comprises a power pack in the housing and the hand-held pick unit has wireless communication means for communicating with a remote device. 13. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, further comprising electronic detecting circuitry that activates and detects radio frequency identification tags. 14. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, further comprising electronic detecting circuitry that detects bar code markings. 15. The hand-held pick unit of claim 5, including a processor and means for detecting information related to at least one of a test tube identification and a test tube storage location.