Device and method for delivering a laboratory sample carrier from a stack of sample carriers
First Claim
1. A device for delivering a laboratory sample carrier from a stack of sample carriers, the device comprising:
- a retainer configured to retain a stack of laboratory sample carriers; and
an ejector mechanism comprising;
a carrier support portion and a carrier transporting portion which are hingeably interconnected, the carrier transporting portion having a carrier accommodating region and a stop;
a motor to displace the carrier support portion from a first carrier receiving position and configuration to a second carrier release position and configuration, the carrier transporting portion arranged to support the stack when the carrier support portion is in the first carrier receiving position and configuration, the carrier support portion arranged to move a lowermost carrier from the bottom of the stack in the carrier accommodating region as the carrier support portion is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration, and the carrier support portion is arranged to support the stack when the carrier support portion is in the second carrier release position and configuration;
a release surface that releases said carrier from the carrier accommodating region when the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration, wherein the release surface is positioned to engage the carrier in the carrier transporting portion and displace the carrier past the stop of the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration; and
a carrier transporting portion support for supporting the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion is in the first carrier receiving position and configuration but does not support the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion is in the second carrier release position and configuration thereby allowing the carrier transporting portion to drop to a carrier release position to release any said carrier from the carrier accommodating region, wherein the stop of the carrier transporting portion prevents a said carrier held in the carrier accommodating region from dropping from the carrier transporting portion before the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for delivering a laboratory sample carrier from a stack of sample carriers includes providing a retaining mechanism that retains the stack of laboratory sample carriers, and an ejector mechanism including a displaceable mechanism comprising a carrier support portion and a carrier transporting portion which are hingeably interconnected. The stack is supported by the carrier transporting portion and the carrier transporting portion is supported by a carrier transporting portion support of the ejector mechanism when the displaceable mechanism is in a first carrier receiving position and configuration. The displaceable mechanism is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration to a second carrier release position and configuration by a further displacement mechanism of the ejector mechanism. This involves moving a lowermost carrier from the bottom of the stack in a carrier accommodating region of the carrier transporting portion as the displaceable mechanism is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration. The displaceable mechanism is displaced such that the carrier transporting portion moves past the carrier transporting portion support and drops so that the displaceable mechanism adopts the second carrier release position and configuration and the carrier in the carrier accommodating region is released. The stack is supported with the carrier support portion when the displaceable mechanism is in the second carrier release position and configuration.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A device for delivering a laboratory sample carrier from a stack of sample carriers, the device comprising:
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a retainer configured to retain a stack of laboratory sample carriers; and an ejector mechanism comprising; a carrier support portion and a carrier transporting portion which are hingeably interconnected, the carrier transporting portion having a carrier accommodating region and a stop; a motor to displace the carrier support portion from a first carrier receiving position and configuration to a second carrier release position and configuration, the carrier transporting portion arranged to support the stack when the carrier support portion is in the first carrier receiving position and configuration, the carrier support portion arranged to move a lowermost carrier from the bottom of the stack in the carrier accommodating region as the carrier support portion is displaced from the first carrier receiving position and configuration, and the carrier support portion is arranged to support the stack when the carrier support portion is in the second carrier release position and configuration; a release surface that releases said carrier from the carrier accommodating region when the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration, wherein the release surface is positioned to engage the carrier in the carrier transporting portion and displace the carrier past the stop of the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration; and a carrier transporting portion support for supporting the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion is in the first carrier receiving position and configuration but does not support the carrier transporting portion when the carrier support portion is in the second carrier release position and configuration thereby allowing the carrier transporting portion to drop to a carrier release position to release any said carrier from the carrier accommodating region, wherein the stop of the carrier transporting portion prevents a said carrier held in the carrier accommodating region from dropping from the carrier transporting portion before the carrier support portion reaches the second carrier release position and configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification