×

Robotic system for sorting sample tubes

  • US 10,031,149 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2016
  • Issued: 07/24/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A device for sorting sample tubes, comprising:

  • a robotic assembly, comprising;

    a base that comprises a vertical lift shaft;

    a horizontal robotic arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the robotic arm is configured to be lifted vertically by the lift shaft and is configured for pivotal movement around the base; and

    end of arm tooling at the distal end of the robotic arm that is configured to pick up and hold a sample tube when a vacuum is applied and to expel and deposit the sample tube into a designated slot in a tube rack when air is expelled through the tooling;

    a vacuum source that is fluidly connected to the end of arm tooling and configured to pull a vacuum through the tooling;

    an air source that is fluidly connected to the end of arm tooling and configured to expel air through the tooling;

    a horizontal stage underneath the robotic arm and configured to hold a plurality of tube racks in a position from which the end of arm tooling may pick up and deposit sample tubes;

    a vision system that is configured to record coded information on sample tubes and on the sides of tube racks in the device and to convey the coded information to a control system; and

    a control system that tracks coded information provided by the vision system, and that controls the robotic assembly to pick up a coded sample tube from a first location in a first tube rack and to deposit the sample tube in a second location in a second tube rack, wherein the first tube rack and the second tube rack are the same or different,wherein the end of arm tooling comprises;

    an open column comprising a top and a bottom, extending through at least a portion of the interior of the tooling and through which a suction force is applied via the vacuum source and air is expelled via the air source;

    a first fitting that is connected to the top of the column and that is fluidly connected to the vacuum source and to the air source;

    an adaptor at the bottom of the column that is of a dimension suitable to connect with and retain the top of a sample tube by suction when a vacuum is applied;

    an open chamber comprising a top and a bottom, located within an upper portion of the tooling, wherein the chamber surrounds the first fitting; and

    a second fitting that is fluidly connected to the air source and through which air passes into the top of the chamber when air pressure is applied,wherein the bottom of the chamber comprises a plurality of openings through which air passes when air pressure is applied, said openings extending through a lower portion of the tooling and configured to expel air through the bottom of the tooling when the device is in operation.

View all claims
  • 7 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×