Container and automated accessioning and assembly platform
AssigneeLaboratory Corporation of America Holdings
InventorsVincent Alfred Fusaro, David John Guckenberger, Jr., Johnathan Carl Hoar Whittaker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An accessioning system is configured to retrieve sample vials from a container. An assembly system is configured to assemble a container containing a sample vial. The container includes a base and a cap, where the cap may have a larger longitudinal length than the base. The longitudinal length of the cap may form a majority of an overall length of the container. The container may include a watertight seal. The container may also include a hydrochromic indicator configured to indicate the present or past presence of a liquid, solution, or other substance inside an internal volume of the container.
Claims17
A system for retrieving sample vials from a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a base, a cap, and an internal volume, and a sample vial disposed in the internal volume, the system comprising:
- a hopper configured to receive the plurality of containers;
- a receiver configured to receive a first container from the hopper, wherein the receiver is configured to orient the first container in a first orientation, wherein in the first orientation the cap is positioned above the base;
- a conveyor configured to receive the first container from the receiver, wherein the conveyor is configured to support and move the first container by the base, wherein the conveyor inhibits rotation of the base;
- a first gripper configured to remove the cap from the base by rotating the cap relative to the base;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- place a plurality of containers in a hopper, wherein each container of the plurality of containers includes a base and a cap;
- transfer a first container of the plurality of containers from the hopper to a receiver:
- orient the first container to a first orientation where the cap is positioned above the base with the receiver:
- transfer the first container to a conveyor, wherein the conveyor supports the first container by the base, and wherein the conveyor inhibits rotation of the base;
- and
- remove the cap from the base to expose a sample vial disposed in the first container, the sample vial being supported by the base,
- wherein the cap has a cap longitudinal length and the base has a base longitudinal length, the cap longitudinal length being greater than the base longitudinal length, wherein the sample vials have a vial longitudinal length greater than the base longitudinal length.
A method of removing sample vials from a plurality of containers, wherein each container of the plurality of containers includes a base and a cap, the method comprising:
- placing the plurality of containers in a hopper;
- transferring a first container of the plurality of containers from the hopper to a receiver;
- orienting the first container to a first orientation where the cap is positioned above the base with the receiver;
- transferring the first container to a conveyor, wherein the conveyor supports the first container by the base, and wherein the conveyor inhibits rotation of the base;
- and
- removing the cap from the base to expose a sample vial disposed in the first container, the sample vial being supported by the base,
- wherein the cap has a cap longitudinal length and the base has a base longitudinal length, the cap longitudinal length being greater than the base longitudinal length, wherein the sample vials have a vial longitudinal length greater than the base longitudinal length.
At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing programming instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
- place a plurality of containers in a hopper, wherein each container of the plurality of containers includes a base and a cap;
- transfer a first container of the plurality of containers from the hopper to a receiver;
- orient the first container to a first orientation where the cap is positioned above the base with the receiver;
- transfer the first container to a conveyor, wherein the conveyor supports the first container by the base, and wherein the conveyor inhibits rotation of the base;
- and
- remove the cap from the base to expose a sample vial disposed in the first container, the sample vial being supported by the base,
- wherein the cap has a cap longitudinal length and the base has a base longitudinal length, the cap longitudinal length being greater than the base longitudinal length,
- wherein the sample vials have a vial longitudinal length greater than the base longitudinal length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.