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US 2003/0118487 A1Published application
Article handling system and method
AssigneeMonogen, Inc.
InventorsNorman J. Pressman, Lucien J. Wroblewski
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMonogen, Inc.
InventorsNorman J. Pressman, Lucien J. Wroblewski
Estimating the term…
An article handling system and method for holding articles and moving selected articles individually from and/or to the article handling system. A plurality of vertically spaced article holding trays are mounted for independent rotation, each tray having a plurality of discrete article holding locations. A tray rotating mechanism is arranged to rotate a single selected tray, while a pick-and-place mechanism has an article gripper mounted for vertical and horizontal movement such that the gripper can reach any article holding location on any selected tray. A controller coordinates rotation of the selected tray and movement of the gripper such that the gripper can move to and from the selected article holding location. The handling system is especially useful as part of an automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid in separate vials.
An article handling system for holding articles and moving selected articles individually from and/or to the article handling system, comprising:
An article handling system according to claim18, wherein the indexing characteristic on the tray comprises a projection.
An article holding tray adapted to be mounted for rotation in an article handling system, the tray comprising a support area having a plurality of discrete article holding locations, a hub adapted for engagement and rotation by a rotary member of the handling system, and a peripheral notch.
A method of individually placing an article on, or removing an article from, one of a plurality of vertically spaced trays mounted for independent rotation about a common vertical axis, each tray having a plurality of discrete article holding locations and a peripheral notch sized to accommodate a gripper mounted for vertical and horizontal movement to reach any article holding location on any selected tray, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.