Code scanner for capturing codes on tubes in a tube rack
AssigneeLiconic AG
InventorCosmas Malin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A code scanner is provided for capturing visual codes at the bottom of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack. The scanner comprises a base and a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack. At least one camera is focused on an object plane at the bottom of the tubes. A transparent cover glass is arranged between the camera and the object plane. The tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around the viewing opening, support members for laterally supporting the tube rack. The cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members. Thus, it is less likely to acquire dirt and any dirt thereon will be out of the object plane of the imaging optics.
Claims17
A code scanner for capturing visual codes at bottom sides of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack, wherein said scanner comprises
- a base,
- a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack placed onto said tube rack support,
- at least one camera mounted to said base, wherein said camera comprises imaging optics focused on an object plane at a level of said tube rack support,
- a transparent cover glass arranged between the camera and the object plane,
- wherein said tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around said viewing opening, support members for laterally supporting the tube rack, and wherein the cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members, and
- wherein, for
- D1 being a distance between the cover glass and a top of the tube rack support and
- D2 being an optical distance between the imaging optics and the top of the tube rack support,
- D
-
- 1
- >
- k
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- D
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- 2
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- with k being at least 0.1.
A code scanner for capturing visual codes at bottom sides of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack, wherein said scanner comprises
- a base,
- a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack placed onto said tube rack support,
- at least one camera mounted to said base, wherein said camera comprises imaging optics focused on an object plane at a level of said tube rack support,
- a transparent cover glass arranged between the camera and the object plane,
- wherein said tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around said viewing opening, support members for laterally supporting the tube rack,
- wherein the cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members, and
- wherein said viewing opening has a width between 80 mm and 90 mm and a length between 120 mm and 135 mm.
A method for operating a code scanner for capturing visual codes at bottom sides of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack, wherein said code scanner comprises
- a base,
- a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack placed onto said tube rack support,
- at least one camera mounted to said base, wherein said camera comprises imaging optics focused on an object plane at a level of said tube rack support,
- a transparent cover glass arranged between the camera and the object plane,
- an access opening extending downwards from an edge of the viewing opening, and
- an interior chamber extending between the viewing opening and the cover glass and laterally bordering on the access opening,
- wherein said tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around said viewing opening, support members for laterally supporting the tube rack, and wherein the cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members,
- wherein said method comprises
- placing a tube rack on the tube rack support and
- scanning the visual codes on a plurality of test tubes in said tube rack by viewing them with the camera through the viewing opening, and
- wherein said method comprises at least one of:
- moving a shovel supporting the tube rack from above through the viewing opening to deposit the tube rack on the rack support and then retrieving the shovel through the access opening, or
- inserting the shovel through the access opening and raising it through the viewing opening, thereby picking up the tube rack deposited on the rack support.
A code scanner for capturing visual codes at bottom sides of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack, wherein said code scanner comprises
- a base,
- a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack placed onto said tube rack support,
- at least one camera mounted to said base, wherein said camera comprises imaging optics focused on an object plane at a level of said tube rack support,
- a transparent cover glass arranged between the camera and the object plane,
- wherein said tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around said viewing opening, four support members located spaced apart at four corners of a rectangle for laterally supporting the tube rack, and wherein the cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members, and
- wherein a distance between neighboring support members is at least 0.9 times an extension of a side of the rectangle between the respective neighboring support members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.