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US 10,739,363 B2Granted
Method for mixing a liquid in an automated analyzer
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH
InventorsJoachim Bernhard, Christian Verhalen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention lies in the field of automated analyzers and relates to a method for mixing liquids in liquid containers. The arrangement for automated mixing comprises a shaking device and a gripper which is connected by way of a flexible connecting element to a transfer arm and which serves for receiving a liquid container. The coupling of gripper and shaking device is realized by way of an eccentrically movable coupling pin and a coupling hole provided for this purpose.
Claims13
A method for mixing a liquid in a liquid container, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving the liquid container via a gripper which is fastened by a flexible connecting element to an automatically movable transfer arm, wherein the gripper has a first section having a coupling hole and a holder extending outward from a bottom portion of the first section adjacent the coupling hole, a distal end of the holder configured to hold the liquid container;
- then
- (b) displacing the gripper with the liquid container to a shaking device having a coupling pin which is movable about a vertical axis of rotation;
- then
- (c) inserting the coupling pin of the shaking device into the coupling hole of the gripper in a direction coaxial with the vertical axis of rotation of the coupling pin;
- then
- (d) horizontally displacing the transfer arm such that the gripper is displaced perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation of the movable coupling pin until an inner wall of the coupling hole exerts a transverse force on the coupling pin;
- and then
- (e) moving the coupling pin.
6 more elements
An automated analyzer having:
- an apparatus for transferring a liquid container, the apparatus comprising a horizontally and vertically movable transfer arm and a gripper which is connected by a flexible connecting element to the transfer arm and which serves for gripping, holding and releasing the liquid container, wherein the gripper has a first section having a coupling hole and a holder extending outward from a bottom portion of the first section adjacent the coupling hole, a distal end of the holder configured to grip, hold, and release the liquid container,
- multiple first receiving positions each configured to receive one liquid container,
- a shaking device having a coupling pin which is movable about a vertical axis of rotation,
- a photometric measurement station operative to measure adsorption of a reaction mix in the liquid container received from the shaking device, and
- a control apparatus configured to control a method for mixing a liquid in the liquid container, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving the liquid container from one of the multiple first receiving positions via the gripper;
- then
- (b) displacing the gripper with the liquid container to the shaking device;
- then
- (c) inserting the coupling pin of the shaking device into the coupling hole of the gripper in a direction coaxial with the vertical axis of rotation of the coupling pin;
- then
- (d) horizontally displacing the transfer arm such that the gripper is displaced perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation of the movable coupling pin until an inner wall of the coupling hole exerts a transverse force on the coupling pin;
- and then
- (e) moving the coupling pin.
11 more elements
A method for mixing a liquid in a liquid container, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving the liquid container via a gripper which is fastened by a flexible connecting element to an automatically movable transfer arm, wherein the gripper has a first section having a coupling hole and a holder extending outward from a bottom portion of the first section adjacent the coupling hole, a distal end of the holder configured to hold the liquid container;
- then
- (b) displacing the gripper with the liquid container to a shaking device having a coupling pin which is movable about a vertical axis of rotation;
- then
- (c) inserting the coupling pin of the shaking device into the coupling hole of the gripper in a direction coaxial with the vertical axis of rotation of the coupling pin;
- then
- (d) displacing the shaking device perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation of the movable coupling pin until an inner wall of the coupling hole exerts a transverse force on the coupling pin;
- and then
- (e) moving the coupling pin.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.