Cartridge loader and methods
AssigneeAFFYMETRIX, INC., a Delaware corporation
InventorsMichael C. Norris, Peter Lobban, Donald Besemer, Andrew B. Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for transporting cartridges comprises a housing for holding a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment. A transport system is also provided and has a grasping mechanism for grasping one of the cartridges. The transport system is further used to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.
Claims31
A device for transporting cartridges, comprising:
- a housing that is adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges;
- a transport system having a grasping mechanism that is adapted to grasp one of the cartridges, to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.
A system for scanning cartridges, comprising:
- a scanner that is adapted to scan the contents of an array cartridge;
- a housing that is adapted to hold a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment;
- a transport system having a grasping mechanism that is adapted to grasp one of the cartridges, to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into the scanner.
An alignment mechanism for aligning a scanner with transporting device, the alignment mechanism comprising:
- a clamping plate that is adapted to clamp to a portion of the scanner;
- an adjustment plate that is slidably coupled to the clamping plate, the adjustment plate having at least one connector that is adapted to be connected to the transporting device;
- and
- an alignment fixture removably coupled to the adjustment plate, the alignment fixture including an arm that is adapted to be aligned with an entry port of the scanner.
A method for transporting cartridges, the method comprising:
- placing a plurality of cartridges into a temperature controlled housing;
- grasping one of the cartridges from the housing with a grasping mechanism;
- moving the cartridge to the scanner;
- placing the cartridge into the scanner;
- and
- releasing the grasping mechanism to deposit the cartridge into the scanner.
A method for transporting cartridges, the method comprising:
- placing a plurality of cartridges into a carrier such that the cartridges extend above the carrier;
- grasping one of the cartridges from the carrier with a grasping mechanism;
- moving the cartridge to the scanner;
- placing the cartridge into the scanner;
- and
- releasing the grasping mechanism to deposit the cartridge into the scanner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.