US 5,507,410 A · Meia cartridge feeder

Abstract

A cartridge feeder for dispensing a plurality of cartridges in single order and in upright position, each cartridge being cylindrical shape and having a top end tapering to an aperture therein and a substantially flat bottom end. A hopper stores a plurality of the cartridges and feeds those cartridges to a throat in a bridge to which the hopper is connected. The cartridge is passed through the bridge throat and to the throat of a shuttle. A pair of axially positioned pins with opposing cups close against the top end and the bottom end of the cartridge. The shuttle moves from a location underneath the bridge to a location over a chute. When the shuttle is over the chute, the first and second pins separate releasing the cartridge to fall through the chute. The first and second pins have a profile which engage the cartridge in a manner causing the bottom end of the cartridge to always drop first. The cartridge passes through the chute to a trap door. The trap door releases the cartridge to an opening in a carousel below, and positions the cartridge within the carousel by a flange mounted to the underneath side of the door.

Claims9

Dependent claims

Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of cartridges in single order and upright position, each cartridge being cylindrical in shape and having a top end tapering to an aperture therein and a substantially flat bottom end, said apparatus comprising:

a first pin and a second pin axially aligned, each of the pins having mounted on one end thereof a cup, each cup having a center profile that matches the shape of the top end of the cartridge, the cups facing each other;
means for supporting said first and second pins, said pins being axially slidable in the supporting means such that the pins can releasably support one of the cartridges therebetween regardless of the orientation of the top and bottom ends of the cartridge;
and
means for actuating said first and second pins, said actuating means fixed to the supporting means, said actuating means capable of closing said pins against the top and bottom ends of said cartridge whereby the center profile of one of the cups fits into the top end of the cartridge with the other cup pressing against the bottom end of the cartridge, and said actuating means being capable of opening said pins away from the top and bottom ends of the cartridge to release the cartridge, whereby one cup holds the top end of the cartridge while the bottom end of the cartridge slips downwardly from the other cup causing the cartridge to pivot to the upright position.

1 more element

Apparatus for dispensing a cartridge having a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis, a top end tapering to an aperture therein, and a substantially flat bottom end, which apparatus comprises:

a bridge having a bridge throat having a size sufficient for the cartridge to pass therethrough with said cartridge's longitudinal axis being oriented horizontally;
a chute having a tapered inner profile adapted to allow the cartridge to pass therethrough such that the cartridge exits said chute with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge oriented vertically, said chute being located in a position offset from the bridge throat of said bridge;
a shuttle having a shuttle throat having a size sufficient to receive the cartridge from said bridge with said cartridge's longitudinal axis being oriented horizontally and allow the cartridge to pass therethrough to said chute;
a first pin and a second pin, each of said pins having mounted on one end thereof a cup having a center profile that matches the shape of the top end of the cartridge, said first pin and said second pin mounted in said shuttle so that they are axially aligned and with the center profiles of the cups facing each other on opposite sides of the shuttle throat, each cup capable of engaging either the top or the bottom end of the cartridge, thereby supporting the cartridge in the shuttle throat;
means for moving said first and second pins so that the cups contact the top end and the bottom end of the cartridge;
means for moving said shuttle from a position aligning the shuttle throat with the bridge throat to a position aligning the shuttle throat with the chute;
and
means for moving said first and second pins away from each other when they are above said chute, thereby dropping the cartridge with the top end up and the bottom end down.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/176,870Filed 3 Jan 1994 · continuation in part

Priority

27 Mar 1992

Granted

16 Apr 1996

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification58 codes

G01N 35/0092
Control arrangements for automatic analysers: scheduling
B01F 31/24
Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes: the containers being submitted to a rectilinear movement
B01L 3/08
Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers: flasks
B01L 3/5025
With fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures: for parallel transport of multiple samples

Family

Serial859,218Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Mar 1992

Serial915,162Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,163Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,164Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,166Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,167Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,168Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial916,425Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial915,551Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial916,556Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial916,737Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial917,253Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial917,634Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jul 1992

Serial27,268Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,270Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,387Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,388Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,481Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,269Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial27,482Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1993

Serial126,411Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Sep 1993

US 5,376,313 AParent of this continuation-in-part

Serial916,551Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,507,410 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Meia cartridge feeder

Life of this patent

Meia cartridge feeder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9