# US 8,783,441 B2 · Transport system and transport method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,783,441 B2
- Document ID: US8783441B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/790,018
- Filed: 2013-03-08
- Published: 2013-09-12
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-08
- Assignees: Aoi Seiki Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Aoi Seiki Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Teruaki Itoh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783441B2

## CPC

- B65G 33/06: conveyed and guided by parallel screws
- G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)}
- G01N 2035/0406: {Individual bottles or tubes}
- G01N 2035/0487: {Helix or lead screw}
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- 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

According to an embodiment, a transport system configured to transport a receptacle which accommodates an upright sample holder containing a sample, the transport system including a screw includes a rotatable shaft disposed along a predetermined transport path and a helical ridge protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a drive unit configured to rotate the screw.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transport system configured to transport a receptacle which accommodates an upright sample holder containing a sample, comprising:
a pair of screws arranged parallel to each other, each of the screws comprising a rotatable-shaft disposed along a predetermined transport path and a helical ridge protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, the ridge comprising a plurality of ridge portions being arranged along an axial direction in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft;
a drive unit configured to rotate the screw; and
the receptacle,
wherein the receptacle comprises an inwardly recessed groove section on an outer peripheral surface thereof and flanges protruding outward from the groove section and located below and above, respectively, of the groove section,
the groove section is sandwiched between the shafts of the pair of screws, and
the lower and upper flanges are sandwiched between the ridge portions axially arranged on the pair of screws.

### Claim 2

A transport method capable of transporting a receptacle which accommodates an upright sample holder containing a sample, comprising:
rotating a pair of screws arranged parallel to each other, each of the screws comprising a rotatable shaft disposed along a predetermined transport path and a helical ridge protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, the pair of screws being configured to sandwich inwardly recessed groove section formed on an outer peripheral surface of the receptacle between the shafts, and sandwich flanges protruding outward from the groove section and located below and above, respectively, of the groove section between the ridge portions arranged in the axial direction; and
feeding the receptacle held between the ridge portions along the transport path.