US 2013/0092187 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WASTE FROM A SOILED CONTAINER

Abstract

An apparatus and method for removing waste from a soiled container that houses laboratory animals and has an opening is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving containers from a stack of containers. The stack is disposed such that the openings are upwardly oriented. The apparatus also includes a manipulator that aligns with and engages an uppermost container of the stack and causes the uppermost container to be separated from the stack and to be flipped over onto the receiving end of the conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed. Waste discarded from the container falls through openings in the conveyor, and a waste receptacle disposed below the conveyor collects the discarded waste. The conveyor advances to transport the container away from the receiving end toward a discharge end of the conveyor.

Claims45

Dependent claims

An apparatus for removing waste from a soiled container, the container having an opening and being operable to house laboratory animals, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving containers from a plurality of stacked containers, the plurality of stacked containers being disposed such that the opening is upwardly oriented;
a manipulator operable to align with and to engage an uppermost container of said plurality of stacked containers, said manipulator being further operable to cause said uppermost container to be separated from said plurality of stacked containers and to cause said uppermost container to be flipped over onto said receiving end of said conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed, said conveyor having a plurality of openings for permitting waste discarded from the container to fall through said openings;
a waste receptacle disposed below said conveyor for collecting the discarded waste;
and
said conveyor being operable to advance to transport said container away from said receiving end toward a discharge end of said conveyor.

2 more elements

A method for removing waste from a soiled container, the container having an opening and being operable to house laboratory animals, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of stacked containers proximate a receiving end of a conveyor, the containers being disposed such that the opening is upwardly oriented;
causing a manipulator to align with and to engage an uppermost container of said plurality of stacked containers;
actuating said manipulator to cause said uppermost container to be separated from said plurality of stacked containers and to cause said uppermost container to be flipped over onto said receiving end of said conveyor such that the opening is downwardly disposed, said conveyor having a plurality of openings for permitting waste discarded from the container to fall through said openings;
and
collecting the discarded waste while causing said conveyor to be advanced to transport said container away from said receiving end toward a discharge end of said conveyor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for removing waste from a soiled container

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for removing waste from a soiled container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45