# US 2019/0170779 A1 · Apparatus For Cup Loading and Unloading and Thromboelastography Machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170779 A1 - Document ID: US20190170779A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/256,269 - Filed: 2019-01-24 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05 - Assignees: Medcaptain Medical Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Medcaptain Medical Technology Co., Ltd - Inventors: Zhiguang Yu; Shuai Yin; Lintao Wu; Jun Dong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170779A1 ## CPC - G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} - G01N 33/86: involving blood coagulating time {or factors, or their receptors} - G01N 33/4905: {Determining clotting time of blood (by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/56)} - G01N 2035/041: {lifting items out of a rack for access} - G01N 2035/0427: {nestable or stockable} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An apparatus for cup loading and unloading and a thromboelastography machine are provided. The apparatus for cup loading and unloading includes a base, a shaft, a movable cover, and a cup holder. The shaft is rotatably connected to the base about an axis of the shaft and has an end configured to engage with an inner cup. The movable cover is disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft. The movable cover is provided with an elastic member therein. The cup holder is slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft and disposed below the base and the shaft. The cup holder has a cavity configured to engage with an outer cup, and the cavity has an open directed upward. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for cup loading and unloading, comprising: a base; a shaft, rotatably connected to the base about an axis of the shaft and having an end configured to engage with an inner cup; a movable cover, disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft, the movable cover being provided with an elastic member therein; a cup holder, slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft and disposed below the base and the shaft, the cup holder having a cavity configured to engage with an outer cup, and the cavity having an open directed upward; a cup ejection assembly, comprising an ejection driving mechanism and an ejection block, the ejection block being slidably connected to the shaft along the axis of the shaft, the ejection driving mechanism being disposed between the base and the ejection block and configured to provide a downward force on the ejection block, and the elastic member being disposed between the ejection block and the movable cover and configured to provide an upward force on the ejection block when in a deformation state; and wherein, when the cup holder slides upward to a contact position, the cup holder is in contact with a bottom end of the movable cover, and an upward movement of the cup holder drives the movable cover to slide upward; the elastic member is configured to provide a downward force on the movable cover when in a deformation state; and an approach movement between the end of the shaft and the cup holder is configured to generate a force to engage the inner cup with the end of the shaft and to engage the outer cup within the cavity of the cup holder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the ejection block is sleeved on the shaft, the elastic member is configured as a compression spring and sleeved on the ejection block, and the elastic member and the ejection block are disposed within the movable cover; the ejection block has an ejection flange disposed around a top portion of the ejection block, the movable cover has an annular flange circumferentially disposed on an inner wall of the movable cover, the ejection flange is disposed above the annular flange, and the elastic member has an end abutted against the ejection flange and another end abutted against the annular flange; and a bottom portion of the ejection block is configured to move to pass through the annular flange to a position below the annular flange, when the ejection block is in a downward movement relative to the shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic assembly, wherein the magnetic assembly comprises a first magnetic element fixedly connected to the cup holder and a second magnetic element fixedly connected to the bottom end of the movable cover, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are attracted each other in a process of the cup holder and the movable cover approaching each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cup holder is fixedly provided with a guiding rod in parallel with the shaft; the base has a guiding hole, and the guiding rod is slidably disposed through the guiding hole; and a damper stop mechanism is disposed between the base and the guiding rod to allow the base and the guiding rod to be relatively fixed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the damper stop mechanism comprises a locking block and a locking spring; the locking block is slidably disposed in the base, and is slidably movable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the guiding rod; and the locking spring is connected to the locking block and provides an elastic force on the locking block, whereby the locking block is abutted against the guiding rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the guiding rod comprises two guiding rods disposed in parallel to and spaced apart from each other; the locking block comprises two locking blocks; the locking spring is configured as a compression spring; and the locking spring has two ends abutted against the two locking elements to provide a repulsive force on the two locking elements, whereby each of the two locking elements is abutted against one of the two guiding rods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cup holder is provided with a thermostat assembly configured to keep the outer cup at a constant temperature; the thermostat assembly comprises a heater and a heating member, the heater being disposed around the heating member, and the cavity being defined in the heating member; and the heater is integrated with a temperature sensor and a temperature protection switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cup holder is further provided with a pushrod mechanism configured to eject the outer cup from the cavity; the pushrod mechanism comprises a pushrod and a pushrod spring; the cup holder has a pushrod hole extending through a bottom surface of the cup holder and the cavity; the pushrod is slidably disposed through the pushrod hole along the axis of the shaft; the pushrod has a top portion configured to abut against the outer cup, and a bottom portion extending outside the pushrod hole and projecting from the bottom surface of the cup holder; and the pushrod spring is connected to the pushrod and is configured to provide a downward force on the pushrod. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is provided with a fixed substrate, a fixed member fixed to the fixed substrate, a fixed cover fixed to the fixed member and sleeved on the shaft, and a damper stop support fixed to the fixed substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ejection driving mechanism comprises a pin shaft, an ejection ring, and an ejection rod, the ejection ring being sleeved on the shaft and disposed between the ejection block and the fixed member, the ejection ring being rotatably connected to the fixed cover via the pin shaft, and the ejection rod having an end fixedly connected to the ejection ring and another end disposed outside the movable cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fixed cover has a first strip-shaped hole, the movable cover has a second strip-shaped hole, and the ejection rod extends through the first strip-shaped hole and the second strip-shaped hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ejection block has a top surface which is inclined. ### Claim 13 A thromboelastography machine, comprising an apparatus for cup loading and unloading, wherein the apparatus comprises: a base; a shaft, rotatably connected to the base about an axis of the shaft and having an end configured to engage with an inner cup; a movable cover, disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft, the movable cover being provided with an elastic member therein; a cup holder, slidably connected to the base along the axis of the shaft and disposed below the base and the shaft, the cup holder having a cavity configured to engage with an outer cup, and the cavity having an open directed upward; a cup ejection assembly, comprising an ejection driving mechanism and an ejection block, the ejection block being slidably connected to the shaft along the axis of the shaft, the ejection driving mechanism being disposed between the base and the ejection block and configured to provide a downward force on the ejection block, and the elastic member being disposed between the ejection block and the movable cover and configured to provide an upward force on the ejection block when in a deformation state; and wherein, when the cup holder slides upward to a contact position, the cup holder is in contact with a bottom end of the movable cover, and an upward movement of the cup holder drives the movable cover to slide upward; the elastic member is configured to provide a downward force on the movable cover when in a deformation state; and an approach movement between the end of the shaft and the cup holder is configured to generate a force to engage the inner cup with the end of the shaft and to engage the outer cup within the cavity of the cup holder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, wherein: the ejection block is sleeved on the shaft, the elastic member is configured as a compression spring and sleeved on the ejection block, and the elastic member and the ejection block are disposed within the movable cover; the ejection block has an ejection flange disposed around a top portion of the ejection block, the movable cover has an annular flange circumferentially disposed on an inner wall of the movable cover, the ejection flange is disposed above the annular flange, and the elastic member has an end abutted against the ejection flange and another end abutted against the annular flange; and a bottom portion of the ejection block is configured to move to pass through the annular flange to a position below the annular flange, when the ejection block is in a downward movement relative to the shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, further comprising a magnetic assembly, wherein the magnetic assembly comprises a first magnetic element fixedly connected to the cup holder and a second magnetic element fixedly connected to the bottom end of the movable cover, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are attracted each other in a process of the cup holder and the movable cover approaching each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, wherein: the cup holder is fixedly provided with a guiding rod in parallel with the shaft; the base has a guiding hole, and the guiding rod is slidably disposed through the guiding hole; and a damper stop mechanism is disposed between the base and the guiding rod to allow the base and the guiding rod to be relatively fixed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The thromboelastography machine of claim 15, wherein: the damper stop mechanism comprises a locking block and a locking spring; the locking block is slidably disposed in the base, and is slidably movable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the guiding rod; and the locking spring is connected to the locking block and provides an elastic force on the locking block, whereby the locking block is abutted against the guiding rod. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The thromboelastography machine of claim 16, wherein: the guiding rod comprises two guiding rods disposed in parallel to and spaced apart from each other; the locking block comprises two locking blocks; the locking spring is configured as a compression spring; and the locking spring has two ends abutted against the two locking elements to provide a repulsive force on the two locking elements, whereby each of the two locking elements is abutted against one of the two guiding rods. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, wherein: the cup holder is provided with a thermostat assembly configured to keep the outer cup at a constant temperature; the thermostat assembly comprises a heater and a heating member, the heater being disposed around the heating member, and the cavity being defined in the heating member; and the heater is integrated with a temperature sensor and a temperature protection switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, wherein: the cup holder is further provided with a pushrod mechanism configured to eject the outer cup from the cavity; the pushrod mechanism comprises a pushrod and a pushrod spring; the cup holder has a pushrod hole extending through a bottom surface of the cup holder and the cavity; the pushrod is slidably disposed through the pushrod hole along the axis of the shaft; the pushrod has a top portion configured to abut against the outer cup, and a bottom portion extending outside the pushrod hole and projecting from the bottom surface of the cup holder; and the pushrod spring is connected to the pushrod and is configured to provide a downward force on the pushrod. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The thromboelastography machine of claim 13, wherein: the base is provided with a fixed substrate, a fixed member fixed to the fixed substrate, a fixed cover fixed to the fixed member and sleeved on the shaft, and a damper stop support fixed to the fixed substrate, and the ejection driving mechanism comprises a pin shaft, an ejection ring, and an ejection rod, the ejection ring being sleeved on the shaft and disposed between the ejection block and the fixed member, the ejection ring being rotatably connected to the fixed cover via the pin shaft, and the ejection rod having an end fixedly connected to the ejection ring and another end disposed outside the movable cover.