Method and system for transporting sample tubes
First Claim
1. A sample tube transport system comprising:
- a track adapted to provide a path for one or more carriers between a plurality of modules;
at least one upper conveyor system comprising;
a first upper pulley configured to rotate around a first axis;
a second upper pulley spaced horizontally from the first upper pulley and configured to rotate around a second axis;
an upper belt located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around the first upper pulley and around the second upper pulley; and
a plurality of upper magnets affixed to the upper belt, each of the plurality of upper magnets being positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the upper belt; and
at least one lower conveyor system comprising;
a first lower pulley spaced vertically below the first upper pulley and configured to rotate around the first axis;
a second lower pulley spaced horizontally from the first lower pulley and configured to rotate around a third axis;
a lower belt spaced vertically below the upper belt, located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around the first lower pulley and around the second lower pulley; and
a plurality of lower magnets affixed to the lower belt, each of the plurality of lower magnets being positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the lower belt.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sample tube transport system that includes a track adapted to provide a path for one or more carriers between a plurality of modules. The system includes at least one upper conveyor system having an upper belt configured to wrap around a first upper pulley and a second upper pulley, and a plurality of upper magnets affixed to the upper belt to move the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the upper belt. The at least one lower conveyor system includes a lower belt spaced vertically below the upper belt and configured to wrap around the first lower pulley and the second lower pulley, and a plurality of lower magnets affixed to the lower belt. Each of the plurality of lower magnets are positioned to attract and move the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the lower belt.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sample tube transport system comprising:
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a track adapted to provide a path for one or more carriers between a plurality of modules; at least one upper conveyor system comprising; a first upper pulley configured to rotate around a first axis; a second upper pulley spaced horizontally from the first upper pulley and configured to rotate around a second axis; an upper belt located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around the first upper pulley and around the second upper pulley; and a plurality of upper magnets affixed to the upper belt, each of the plurality of upper magnets being positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the upper belt; and at least one lower conveyor system comprising; a first lower pulley spaced vertically below the first upper pulley and configured to rotate around the first axis; a second lower pulley spaced horizontally from the first lower pulley and configured to rotate around a third axis; a lower belt spaced vertically below the upper belt, located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around the first lower pulley and around the second lower pulley; and a plurality of lower magnets affixed to the lower belt, each of the plurality of lower magnets being positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the lower belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A modular sample tube transport system comprising:
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a plurality of modules for conducting processing on one or more samples; a track configured to provide at least one path for one or more sample carriers between the plurality of modules; a plurality of conveyor systems comprising at least one upper conveyor system and at least one lower conveyor system, and one or more pulley assemblies configured to be coupled between the at least one upper conveyor system and the at least one lower conveyor system, the one or more pulley assemblies having an upper pulley and a lower pulley, wherein the plurality of conveyor systems alternate between a respective upper conveyor system and an adjacent respective lower conveyor system, the at least one upper conveyor system comprises; an upper belt located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around corresponding upper pulleys of the plurality of pulley assemblies; and a plurality of upper magnets affixed to the upper belt and positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track, and at least one adjacent lower conveyor system comprises; a lower belt located adjacent the track and configured to wrap around corresponding lower pulleys of the plurality of pulley assemblies; and a plurality of lower magnets affixed to the lower belt and positioned to attract the one or more carriers for moving the one or more carriers along the track. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for transporting sample tubes comprising:
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rotating an upper belt, having a plurality of upper magnets affixed thereto, around a first upper pulley and around a second upper pulley by rotating the first upper pulley around a first axis and rotating the second upper pulley around a second axis; moving one or more carriers along a track adjacent the upper belt with the plurality of upper magnets; rotating a lower belt, having a plurality of lower magnets affixed thereto, around a first lower pulley and around a second lower pulley by rotating the first lower pulley around the first axis and rotating the second lower pulley around a third axis; moving the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the lower belt with the plurality of lower magnets. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification