CHUTE ARRANGEMENT WITH STRIP-OFF FEATURE
First Claim
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1. An element useful for releasing an object gripped by a gripper unit, wherein said gripper unit includes a plurality of gripper fingers for gripping the object, said element comprising:
- a tubular body comprising a central axial bore running the length of the tubular body with a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular body is configured to receive at least a portion of said object into said central axial bore through said first end, the first end including a plurality of slots parallel to the axis of the central axial bore and being open at the first end, said plurality of slots being positioned to receive portions of the plurality of gripper fingers of the gripper unit,wherein said tubular body is configured to restrain the object as the plurality of gripper fingers are extracted through the plurality of slots to release the object.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a chute arrangement comprising an element for objects, such as, test tubes, caps, etc. released by a gripper unit such that the released objects may be collected in a container. The element may comprise a plurality of slots for a plurality of gripper fingers in the gripper unit to pass through. The element may be configured to restrain the object as the plurality of gripper fingers release the object.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An element useful for releasing an object gripped by a gripper unit, wherein said gripper unit includes a plurality of gripper fingers for gripping the object, said element comprising:
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a tubular body comprising a central axial bore running the length of the tubular body with a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular body is configured to receive at least a portion of said object into said central axial bore through said first end, the first end including a plurality of slots parallel to the axis of the central axial bore and being open at the first end, said plurality of slots being positioned to receive portions of the plurality of gripper fingers of the gripper unit, wherein said tubular body is configured to restrain the object as the plurality of gripper fingers are extracted through the plurality of slots to release the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A chute arrangement for guiding an object, the chute arrangement comprising:
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an element comprising a tubular body comprising a central axial bore, a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end comprising a plurality of slots parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central axial bore; an adapter unit; and a bottom chute coupled to the element through the adapter unit, wherein one end of the adapter unit is coupled to the second end of the element and another end of the adapter unit is coupled to the bottom chute. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of releasing an object through a chute arrangement, the method comprising:
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gripping the object using a plurality of gripper fingers in a gripper unit; inserting the object into the chute arrangement by means of the gripper unit, the chute arrangement comprising; an element comprising an element body comprising a central axial bore, a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a plurality of slots; and releasing the object by the plurality of gripper fingers by causing the gripper fingers to extend outward through the plurality of slots while the object is within the element of the chute arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification