Method and apparatus for the stepwise movement of items
AssigneeBaxter Diagnostics Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Huber, Stephen L. Frye, John C. Mazza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sample analyzer for analyzing the characteristics of a plurality of samples. The analyzer includes a movable sample support for holding samples arranged in a first plurality of holders in a sequence for movement in a first direction. An indexing drive for the sample support advances the sample support in the first direction in a set of one or more increments, wherein one increment in the set is a net amount equal to a second plurality of holders greater than one holder and less than the first plurality such that the second plurality is relatively prime with respect to the first plurality.
Claims20
A sample analyzer for analyzing a plurality of samples, the analyzer comprising:
- a movable sample support for holding M samples arranged in M sample holders in a sequence for movement in a first direction, said samples being arranged in g groups with n samples in each group so that M equals the product of g and n;
- an indexing drive means for moving the samples in sample support in the first direction as a sequence of primary shifts and, for n>1, secondary shifts, in which:
- each primary shift is a net movement of the sample support in the first direction by P sample holder positions from a current sample group;
- each secondary shift is a net movement of the sample support within the current sample group;
- the values P and M are relatively prime, that is, they have no factors in common other than unity;
- the greatest common factor between the value (P+n-1) and M is n;
- whereby each of the g groups is the current group once before the sample support returns to an initial position.
A method for controlling an analyzer for a plurality of samples comprising the steps of:
- A) in a movable sample support, arranging M samples in M sample holders in g groups with n samples in each group, so that M equals the product of g and n;
- B) moving the samples in the sample support in a first direction as a sequence of primary shifts;
- C) for n>1, further moving the samples in the sample support in as a sequence of secondary shifts, in which:
- D) each primary shift is a net movement of the sample support in the first direction by P sample holder positions from a current sample group;
- E) each secondary shift is a net movement of the sample support within the current sample group;
- F) the values P and M are relatively prime, that is, they have no factors in common other than unity;
- G) the greatest common factor between the value (P+n-1) and M is n;
- whereby each of the g groups is the current group once before the sample support returns to an initial position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.