Chain incubator/conveyor and method of use
AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorJames D. Shaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain incubator or conveyor, and method of use in an analyzer, wherein an endless chain is formed of repeating members and each comprising a link, element support, a cover, and means for biasing the cover onto the support with an article such as a test element between them. The members are linked together by a pair of pivot pins, and the chain is engaged by a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket.
Claims18
A method of efficiently loading slide test elements onto an incubator comprising a continuous series of slide test element supports joined together for movement past a loading station which may or may not have a slide test element present for loading and means for moving said supports incrementally in a selected direction past said loading station, said joined supports and said moving means defining a flexible and variable path of travel for said supports,
- the method comprising the steps of alternately moving said supports past said loading station and loading any slide test element presented by said station, from said station onto a support aligned opposite said station if said aligned support is empty,
- and in the event no slide test element is presented by said station to a given empty support prior to said empty support moving past said station, then distorting said flexible path if a slide test element is presented at said station immediately after said empty support passes, so that said empty support is repositioned and aligned with said station now presenting a slide test element.
In an incubator comprising a continuous series of slide test element supports joined together for movement past a loading station which may or may not have a slide test element present for loading and means for moving said supports incrementally in a selected direction past said loading station,
- the improvement wherein said supports are flexibly joined together and wherein said moving means define a path of travel of said joined supports that is variable in shape, and
- further including a linear actuator for pushing or pulling said joined supports to vary a shape of said travel path sufficiently to push or pull a slide test element support that has passed or is passing said loading station in said selected direction, back into position in which it is opposite said loading station and ready to receive a slide test element from said loading station.
An incubator for a chemical analyzer, comprising:
- a plurality of test element supports vertically joined together in a stacked assembly with each support disposed horizontally, said assembly comprising at least a pair of opposed pivot points attached to each of said supports and at least one pivot pin, said pivot pin passing through and joining a pivot point of one support to a pivot point of an adjacent support;
- moving means for moving said stack along a path in a vertical direction;
- and
- means for pushing or pulling said assembly to alter a shape of said path.
An incubator for a chemical analyzer, comprising:
- a plurality of test element supports vertically joined together in a stacked assembly with each support disposed horizontally;
- at least one of said supports occupying a particular horizontal position at any one time;
- moving means for vertically moving said supports along a path, out of said horizontal position into a next adjacent horizontal position previously occupied by an adjacent support;
- and
- means for pushing or pulling said assembly to alter a shape of said path.
An incubator for a chemical analyzer, comprising:
- a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other at opposite ends by pins to form an endless chain conveyor with said pins having a spacing in said links, a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket each having teeth spaced apart a distance coinciding with the spacing of said pins in said links;
- a test element support extending from each of said links;
- a heater for maintaining said supports at a desired temperature;
- means for driving said chain conveyor along a path having an alterable shape;
- and
- means for pulling or pushing said conveyor to alter said shape of said path.
An endless chain conveyor comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other at opposite ends by pins, a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket each having teeth spaced and shaped to engage said links, and an article support having a supporting surface projecting from each of said links, said sprockets being disposed one above the other so that said supports are oriented generally horizontally except when their respective links engage said sprockets;
- a cover for each of said links, movably positioned over each said support and biasing means for removably biasing said cover against said each support, and means for driving said chain conveyor along a path having an alterable shape;
- and
- means for pushing or pulling said conveyor to alter said shape of said path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.