Apparatus and methods for dispensing sample holders
First Claim
1. A device for separating a sample holder from a stack of sample holders, comprising:
- a support member for receiving a stack of at least two sample holders;
a first releasing member and a second releasing member, said first releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread and said second releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread;
said support member being positioned to introduce the stack of at least two sample holders between said first releasing member and said second releasing member,wherein said first releasing member is operatively connected to a first rotator capable of rotation in a clockwise direction and said second releasing member is operatively connected to a second rotator capable of rotation in a counter-clockwise direction, said first and second rotators rotating said first and second releasing members thereby releasing said one of at least two sample holders from said stack of sample holders.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for dispensing sample holders for use in an automated sample analyzer is disclosed herein. The apparatus for dispensing sample holders includes a rotating carousel for housing stack of sample holders. Stacks of sample holders from the rotating carousel are fed into a chute where sample holders contact a set of rotating members having helical threads thereon. The helically threaded rotating members engage the sample containers and separate each sample holder from the remaining sample holders in the stack by rotation of the helically threaded rotating members. The sample holder can then be transferred for use in an automated sample analyzer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for separating a sample holder from a stack of sample holders, comprising:
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a support member for receiving a stack of at least two sample holders; a first releasing member and a second releasing member, said first releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread and said second releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread; said support member being positioned to introduce the stack of at least two sample holders between said first releasing member and said second releasing member, wherein said first releasing member is operatively connected to a first rotator capable of rotation in a clockwise direction and said second releasing member is operatively connected to a second rotator capable of rotation in a counter-clockwise direction, said first and second rotators rotating said first and second releasing members thereby releasing said one of at least two sample holders from said stack of sample holders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for separating a sample holder from a stack of sample holders comprising the steps of:
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positioning a stack of at least a first sample holder and a second sample holder adjacent a first releasing member and a second releasing member, said first releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread and said second releasing member comprising a right hand oriented helical thread and a left hand oriented helical thread; engaging said first sample holder by said first releasing member and said second releasing member; disengaging the first sample holder from the second sample holder by rotating said first releasing member in a first direction while rotating said second releasing member in a second direction; and releasing the first sample holder from the first releasing member and the second releasing member by rotating said first releasing member in the second direction while rotating said second releasing member in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification