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US 12,656,364 B2Granted
Receptacle transport system for an analytical system
AssigneeGen-Probe Incorporated
InventorsRolf Silbert, HongRan Peng, David Aaron Buse, David H. Combs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A receptacle delivery system for an instrument includes a carriage, a puck rotatably supported by the carriage, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The puck comprises a plurality of spring-loaded fingers arranged around a vertical axis and configured to removably support a receptacle therebetween. The first electric motor is configured to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument. The second electric motor is configured to rotate the puck about the vertical axis.
Claims23
A receptacle delivery system for an instrument, comprising:
- a conveyor;
- one or more carriers supported on the conveyor, wherein each carrier of the one or more carriers is configured to support at least one receptacle containing a fluid;
- a carriage;
- a puck rotatably supported by the carriage, wherein the puck is configured to removably support a receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the receptacle is substantially coincident with a vertical axis of the puck, wherein the puck comprises a plurality of spring-loaded fingers arranged around the vertical axis of the puck and configured to removably support a receptacle therebetween;
- a pick and place device configured to transfer a receptacle between one of the one or more carriers supported on the conveyor and the puck;
- a first electric motor configured to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument;
- and
- a second electric motor configured to rotate the puck about the vertical axis.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.