Sensor release mechanism for a meter
First Claim
1. A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being disposed in a sensor cavity on the sensor pack and enclosed by a protective covering, the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument comprising:
- an outer housing having a front end and a rear end, the outer housing further having a sensor slot through which one of the sensors is disposed to conduct the test;
a mechanism disposed generally within the outer housing, the mechanism including an indexing disk for supporting and rotating the sensor pack, an indexing support for rotating the indexing disk, an ejecting mechanism ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor cavity and through the sensor slot, and a puller handle for moving the indexing support and the ejecting mechanism;
an electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and to display test results;
a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the sensor and the electronics assembly; and
a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot, the sensor release activating a sensor-release mechanism having a sensor-release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin connecting the sensor-release aid arm to the mounting block, the sensor-release aid arm being adapted to contact the sensor disposed in the sensor slot and to assist in removing the sensor from the sensor slot.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor-dispensing instrument (10) adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors and to perform a test using one of the sensors. The sensor-dispensing instrument includes an outer housing (12) and a mechanical mechanism contained therein for rotating the sensor pack and ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor pack and through a sensor slot on the housing. The sensor-dispensing instrument also includes a sensor actuator to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, and a sensor release (66) that is movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot and permit the discharge of the sensor the sensor release additionally activating a sensor release mechanism that has a sensor release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin that connects the sensor release aid arm to the mounting block, wherein the sensor release aid arm is adapted to contact the sensor disposed in the sensor slot to assist removal of the sensor from the sensor slot.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being disposed in a sensor cavity on the sensor pack and enclosed by a protective covering, the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the sensor-dispensing instrument comprising:
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an outer housing having a front end and a rear end, the outer housing further having a sensor slot through which one of the sensors is disposed to conduct the test; a mechanism disposed generally within the outer housing, the mechanism including an indexing disk for supporting and rotating the sensor pack, an indexing support for rotating the indexing disk, an ejecting mechanism ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor cavity and through the sensor slot, and a puller handle for moving the indexing support and the ejecting mechanism; an electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and to display test results; a sensor actuator generally disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the sensor and the electronics assembly; and a sensor release generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor release being movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot, the sensor release activating a sensor-release mechanism having a sensor-release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin connecting the sensor-release aid arm to the mounting block, the sensor-release aid arm being adapted to contact the sensor disposed in the sensor slot and to assist in removing the sensor from the sensor slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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7. A method of operating a sensor-dispensing instrument adapted to handle a sensor pack containing a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being disposed in a sensor cavity on the sensor pack and enclosed by a protective covering, and the sensor-dispensing instrument further adapted to perform a test using one of the plurality of sensors, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a sensor-dispensing instrument including an outer housing, a mechanism for moving the sensor pack, an electronics assembly, a sensor release and a sensor-release mechanism, the outer housing having a sensor slot through which one of the sensors is disposed to conduct the test, the mechanism being disposed generally within the outer housing, the mechanism including an indexing disk for supporting and rotating the sensor pack and an indexing support for rotating the indexing disk, an ejecting mechanism for ejecting one of the sensors from the sensor cavity and through the sensor slot, and a puller handle for moving the indexing support and the ejecting assembly, the puller handle being moveable between a testing position, an extended position being spaced outwardly from the housing and a stand-by position being located between the testing position and the extended position, the electronics assembly generally disposed in the outer housing, the electronic assembly adapted to perform the test and to display test results, the sensor release being disposed generally on a surface of the outer housing; pulling the puller handle from the stand-by position to the extended position so as to cause the indexing support to rotate the indexing disk; pushing the puller handle from the extended position to the testing position so as to cause the ejecting mechanism to eject one of the sensors from the sensor cavity and through the sensor slot; performing the test by using the sensor disposed in the sensor slot; and activating the sensor-release button so as to assist in moving the puller handle from the testing position to the stand-by position and to contact the sensor-release mechanism so as to cause the sensor to be released from the sensor slot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 17)
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10. A sensor-release system for a sensor-dispensing instrument, the sensor-dispensing instrument including an outer housing, a sensor slot adapted to receive a test sensor and an electronics assembly, the sensor-release system comprising:
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a sensor actuator generally being disposed adjacent to the sensor slot, the sensor actuator adapted to engage with a sensor disposed in the sensor slot, to connect to contacts on the sensor, and to transmit electrical signals between the test sensor and the electronics assembly; a sensor-release button being generally disposed on a surface of the outer housing, the sensor-release button being movable to disengage the sensor actuator from the sensor disposed in the sensor slot; and a sensor-release mechanism having a sensor-release aid arm, a mounting block, and a pivot pin connecting the sensor-release aid arm to the mounting block, the sensor-release aid arm being adapted to contact the sensor disposed in the sensor slot to assist removal of the sensor from the sensor slot, wherein the sensor release button further being movable to activate the sensor-release mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification