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US 11,346,851 B2Granted
Sample sorting system and methods of sorting samples
OwnerDavid Wilson, Jay Krajewski +1inventors
InventorsDavid Wilson, Jay Krajewski, Kevin Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are high-throughput vessel sorting systems and methods of sorting sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for sorting a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.
Claims20
A system for sorting a plurality of vessels, comprising:
- (a) a sorting unit to sort the plurality of vessels, wherein each of the plurality of vessels is configured to hold a sample and comprises an identification region providing information related to a sorting group into which the sample is to be sorted, and wherein the sorting unit comprises:
- (i) a first transfer belt that individually transports each of the plurality of vessels from an entry position to a second position within the sorting unit;
- (ii) a scanning unit positioned adjacent to the second position, wherein the scanning unit comprises a reader that reads the identification region and stores the information related to the sorting group;
- (iii) an end component that receives each of the plurality of vessels from the first transfer belt and positions each of the plurality of vessels at the second position for reading by the scanning unit;
- (iv) a nesting belt that receives and individually positions each of the plurality of scanned vessels for transport to a collection point, wherein the nesting belt advances in timed intervals and comprises a plurality of stages and wherein the position of each of the plurality of scanned vessels on the nesting belt is stored by the system;
- and
- (v) a manipulator that individually transfers each of the plurality of scanned vessels from the scanning unit to the nesting belt;
- and
- (b) a runner positioned at an exit position of the sorting unit, wherein the runner transfers each of the plurality of vessels from the nesting belt to the collection point,
- wherein the system detects a status of the runner and stops or slows, and resumes the nesting belt accordingly.
7 more elements
A method for sorting a plurality of vessels, comprising:
- providing a plurality of vessels, each of the plurality of vessels configured to hold a sample, wherein each of the plurality of vessels comprises an identification region for providing information related to a sorting group of the sample;
- transferring the plurality of vessels to a sorting unit to sort the plurality of vessels, wherein the sorting unit comprises:
- (i) a first transfer belt to individually transport each of the plurality of vessels from an entry position to a second position within the sorting unit;
- (ii) a scanning unit comprising a reader to read the identification region on each of the plurality of vessels and store the information as each of the plurality of vessels is sorted by the sorting unit;
- (iii) an end component that receives each of the vessels from the first transfer belt and positions each of the plurality of vessels at the second position for reading by the scanning unit;
- (iv) a nesting belt to position each of the plurality of scanned vessels for transport to a collection point, wherein the nesting belt advances in timed intervals and comprises a plurality of stages;
- and
- (v) a manipulator that individually transfers each of the plurality of scanned vessels from the scanning unit to the nesting belt;
- reading the identification region of each of the plurality of vessels;
- determining the sorting group for each of the plurality of vessels;
- storing the information related to each of the plurality of vessels;
- detecting a status of a runner and stopping or slowing, and resuming the nesting belt accordingly;
- transferring each of the plurality of vessels to the runner, wherein the runner is positioned at an exit position of the sorting unit;
- and
- transferring each of the plurality of vessels via the runner to the collection point determined by the sorting group information.
12 more elements
A computer program product comprising:
- a processing device;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to perform operations comprising:
- providing a plurality of vessels, each of the plurality of vessels configured to hold a sample, wherein each of the plurality of vessels comprises an identification region for providing information related to a sorting group of the sample;
- transferring each of the plurality of vessels to a sorting unit to sort the plurality of vessels, wherein the sorting unit comprises:
- (i) a first transfer belt to individually transport each of the plurality of vessels from an entry position to a second position within the sorting unit;
- (ii) a scanning unit comprising a reader that reads the identification region on each of the plurality of vessels and stores the information as each of the plurality of vessels is sorted by the sorting unit;
- (iii) an end component that receives each of the plurality of vessels from the first transfer belt and positions each of the plurality of vessels at the second position for reading by the scanning unit;
- (iv) a nesting belt that advances in timed intervals and positions each of the plurality of scanned vessels for transport to a collection point;
- and
- (v) a manipulator that individually transfers each of the plurality of scanned vessels from the scanning unit to the nesting belt;
- reading the identification region of each of the plurality of vessels;
- determining the sorting group for each of the plurality of vessels;
- storing the information related to each of the plurality of vessels;
- detecting a status of a runner and stopping or slowing, and resuming the nesting belt accordingly;
- transferring each of the plurality of vessels to the runner, wherein the runner transfers each of the plurality of vessels to the collection point;
- and
- transferring each of the plurality of vessels via the runner to a collection container determined by the sorting group information.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.