Cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system

• US 6,881,380 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Gebauer, Carl R., Bakonyi, Frank, Mootz, Frederick E., Dumitrescu, Nicolae
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US09/626,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 436/43, 436/45, 436/47, 436/48, 221/186, 221/289, 221/290
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/062 by means of reciprocating or oscillating escapement-like mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/105 by means of reciprocating escapement-like mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0427 nestable or stockable
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system which includes a nestable sample cup for holding sample mixtures, a cup dispenser mechanism for holding and dispensing a supply of the cups into a sample shuttle for transporting them, and an incubator for controlling the temperature of the cup and its contents. In one embodiment, the cups include a conical lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion having a top flange, a bottom flange and a groove formed therebetween. An apparatus is provided for holding and dispensing a plurality of such cups including a supply tube for holding the cups in a stack wherein the stack has a bottom-most cup and a next-bottom-most cup located above the bottom-most cup. The apparatus also includes an escapement located at a lower end of the supply tube which includes a disk having an aperture formed therein, a first leaf attached to a top side of the disk and a second leaf attached to a bottom side of the disk. The disk is movable between a first position in which the second leaf engages the bottom flange of the bottom-most cup and a second position in which the first leaf is inserted into the groove of the next-bottom-most cup and engages the top flange of the next-bottom-most cup and in which the second leaf no longer engages the bottom flange of the bottom-most cup. In the second position, the bottom-most cup is free to fall through the aperture formed in the disk.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding and dispensing a plurality of cups, each of said cups having a conical lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion having a top flange, a bottom flange, and a groove formed therebetween, comprising:

a supply tube having a lower end and an interior suitable for holding said cups in a stack, said stack having at least a bottom-most cup and a next-bottom-most cup located above said bottom-most cup; and

an escapement located adjacent the lower end of said supply tube, said escapement including a disk having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture formed therein, a first leaf fixedly attached to the top side of said disk and a second leaf fixedly attached to the bottom side of said disk;

wherein said escapement is moveable between a first position in which said second leaf engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup and a second position in which said first leaf is inserted into the groove of said next-bottom-most cup and engages the top flange of said next-bottom-most cup and in which said second leaf no longer engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup such that said bottom-most cup falls through said aperture formed in said disk.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support, wherein said supply tube is fixedly attached to said support and wherein said escapement is moveably attached to said support by a spring.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving said escapement between said first position and said second position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sample shuttle having a plurality of sample holding positions and at least one actuation pin, wherein said escapement is moveable in a first direction between said first position and said second position, wherein said sample shuttle is moveable in said first direction and said at least one actuation pin engages said escapement and moves said escapement from said first position to said second position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of said sample holding positions is located directly beneath said supply tube when said escapement is moved to said second position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sample holding position located directly beneath said supply tube is provided with a cylindrical insert, and wherein when a cup falls through said aperture formed in said disk, said conical lower portion of said cup is guided by said cylindrical insert.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said cylindrical insert has an inside diameter slightly larger than a largest diameter of said conical lower portion measured at a position adjacent said cylindrical upper portion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for ensuring that said cups are inserted into said supply tube conical lower portion first.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply tube further comprises a spring having an angular portion and a cup stop which protrude into said interior of said supply tube, wherein said angular portion and said cup stop are pushed out of said interior to allow said cups to slide past said spring when said cups are inserted into said supply tube conical lower portion first, and wherein said angular portion and said cup stop remain in said interior to prevent said cups from sliding past said spring when said cups are inserted into said supply tube cylindrical upper portion first.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second leaf has a thickness and wherein said thickness is chosen such that said second leaf will not fit into said groove.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an incubator having a temperature controller, a temperature sensor, a heater, and an insulated heat sink, said incubator having N cup holding positions and up to N-1 insulating covers which fit over said cup holding positions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said cup holding positions include a conical lower portion adapted to receive said conical lower portion of said cups, and a cylindrical upper portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of said cylindrical upper portion of said cups.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said cups are inserted into said cup holding positions, said conical lower portions of said cups are in thermal contact with said conical lower portions of said cup holding positions.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply tube has a C-shaped cross section.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply tube further comprises at least two supply tubes mounted on a rotatable turret.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of said supply tubes has a lower end and wherein said turret can be rotated to selectively position a selected one of said lower ends of said supply tubes over said escapement.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bottom flange of said cups has a bottom surface, and wherein said top flange of said cups has a top surface, and wherein a distance between said bottom surface and said top surface is chosen such that a plurality of said cups can nest within one another in a ratio between 1.5 to 1 and 6 to 1.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bottom flange of said cups has a bottom surface and wherein said top flange of said cups has a top surface, and wherein a distance between said bottom surface and said top surface is between 2 mm and 20 mm such that said cup cannot tumble when placed inside said supply tube.

19. A cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system, comprising:

a plurality of cups, each of said cups having a conical lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion having a top flange, a bottom flange, and a groove formed therebetween;

a supply tube having a lower end and an interior suitable for holding said cups in a stack, said stack having at least a bottom-most cup and a next-bottom-most cup located above said bottom-most cup;

an escapement located adjacent the lower end of said supply tube, said escapement including a disk having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture formed therein, a first leaf attached to the top side of said disk and a second leaf attached to the bottom side of said disk, wherein said escapement is moveable between a first position in which said second leaf engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup and a second position in which said first leaf is inserted into the groove of said next-bottom-most cup and engages the top flange of said next bottom-most cup and in which said second leaf no longer engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup such that said bottom-most cup falls through said aperture formed in said disk; and

an incubator.

20. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said incubator comprises a temperature controller, a temperature sensor, a heater, and an insulated heat sink.

21. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 20, wherein said incubator has N cup holding positions and up to N-1 insulating covers which fit over said cup holding positions.

22. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 21, wherein said cup holding positions include a conical lower portion adapted to receive said conical lower portion of said cups, and a cylindrical upper portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of said cylindrical upper portion of said cups.

23. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 22, wherein when said cups are inserted into said cup holding positions, said conical lower portions of said cups are in thermal contact with said conical lower portions of said cup holding positions.

24. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, further comprising a support, wherein said supply tube is fixedly attached to said support and wherein said disk is moveably attached to said support by a spring.

25. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, further comprising means for moving said disk between said first position and said second position.

26. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, further comprising a sample shuttle having a plurality of sample holding positions and at least one actuation pin, wherein said escapement is moveable in a first direction between said first position and said second position, wherein said sample shuttle is moveable in said first direction and said at least one actuation pin engages said escapement and moves said disk from said first position to said second position.

27. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 26, wherein one of said sample holding positions is located directly beneath said supply tube when said escapement is moved to said second position.

28. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 27, wherein said sample holding position located directly beneath said supply tube is provided with a cylindrical insert, and wherein when a cup falls through said aperture formed in said disk, said conical lower portion of said cup is guided by said cylindrical insert.

29. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 28, wherein said cylindrical insert has an inside diameter slightly larger than a largest diameter of said conical lower portion measured at a position adjacent said cylindrical upper portion.

30. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said supply tube further comprises a spring having an angular portion and a cup stop which protrude into said interior of said supply tube, wherein said angular portion and said cup stop are pushed out of said interior to allow said cups to slide past said spring when said cups are inserted into said supply tube conical lower portion first, and wherein said angular portion and said cup stop remain in said interior to prevent said cups from sliding past said spring when said cups are inserted into said supply tube cylindrical upper portion first.

31. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said second leaf has a thickness and wherein said thickness is chosen such that said second leaf will not fit into said groove.

32. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said supply tube further comprises at least two supply tubes mounted on a rotable turret.

33. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 32, wherein each of said supply tubes has a lower end and wherein said turret can be rotated to selectively position a selected one of said lower ends of said supply tubes over said escapement.

34. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said bottom flange of said cups has a bottom surface, and wherein said top flange of said cups has a top surface, and wherein a distance between said bottom surface and said top surface is chosen such that a plurality of said cups can nest within one another in a ration between 1.5 to 1 and 6 to 1.

35. A cup handling subsystem according to claim 19, wherein said bottom flange of said cups has a bottom surface and wherein said top flange of said cups has a top surface, and wherein a distance between said bottom surface and said top surface is between 2 mm and 20 mm such that said cup cannot tumble when placed inside said supply tube.

36. An apparatus for holding and dispensing a plurality of cups, each of said cups having a conical lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion having a top flange, a bottom flange, and a groove formed therebetween, comprising:

a plurality of supply tubes mounted on a rotatable turret, each supply tube having a lower end and an interior suitable for holding said cups in a stack, said stack having at least a bottom-most cup and a next-bottom-most cup located above said bottom-most cup; and

an escapement located adjacent the lower end of a selected one of said supply tubes, said escapement including a disk having a top side, a bottom side and an aperture formed therein, a first leaf attached to the top side of said disk and a second leaf attached to the bottom side of said disk;

wherein said escapement is moveable between a first position in which said second leaf engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup and a second position in which said first leaf is inserted into the groove of said next-bottom-most cup and engages the top flange of said next-bottom-most cup and in which said second leaf no longer engages the bottom flange of said bottom-most cup such that said bottom-most cup falls through said aperture formed in said disk.