Magnetic damping for specimen transport system

• US 8,973,736 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Johns, Charles W., Rizzotte, Samuel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deuble, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US13/670,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 198/439, 198/465.1, 198/465.2, 198/619, 198/679, 198/867.01, 198/867.11, 422/63, 422 65- 67
• US Class Current: 198/439
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/262 by using a centrifuge
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/18 Transport of container or devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 11/04 Periodical feeding or discharging; Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 15/00 Other accessories for centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2009/143 by weight compensation with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2011/046 Loading, unloading, manipulating sample containers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2013/006 Interface detection or monitoring of separated components
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/02 Casings; Lids shock absorbers, vibration dampers F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 7/08 Rotary bowls centrifugal casting machines B22D
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/14 Balancing rotary bowls balancing per se G01M; Schrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/146 Unbalance detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/00 Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0261 Puck as article support
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/40 Safety features of loads, equipment or persons
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/28 during transit by a single conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/82 Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 : for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/08 : for measuring diameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/10 : of objects while moving
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 : for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 : Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/08 : Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/14 : Determining imbalance G01M1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00495 : Centrifuges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 : manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0462 : Buffers [FIFO] or stacks [LIFO] for holding carriers between operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 : Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 : Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 : Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 : using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 : Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 : Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 : Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 : Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A specimen transport system with magnetic damping and method for transporting specimens with magnetic damping are disclosed. A conveyance device transports sample carriers configured to carry specimen containers. One or more of the sample carriers include magnets. The system may also include a diverting arm having a magnet. When a first sample carrier is transported toward a second sample carrier, a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier repels a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier. When a sample carrier is transported toward a diverting arm, a diverting arm magnet of the diverting arm repels a sample carrier magnet of the sample carrier.

Claims

1. A specimen transport system comprising:

a first sample carrier configured to transport at least one specimen container,

a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the first sample carrier;

a second sample carrier configured to transport at least one specimen container;

a second sample carrier magnet coupled to the second sample carrier;

wherein the first sample carrier magnet is configured to repel the second sample carrier magnet such that no contact occurs between the first sample carrier and the second sample carrier when the first sample carrier is transported toward the second sample carrier; and

wherein the first sample carrier and the second sample carrier are adapted to be transported within the specimen transport system by a motor of the sample carrier.

2. The specimen transport system of claim 1 further comprising a diverting arm magnet coupled to a diverting arm, wherein the diverting arm magnet is configured to repel a sample carrier magnet of a sample carrier.

3. The specimen transport system of claim 2, wherein the diverting arm magnet is axially magnetized.

4. The specimen transport system of claim 1, further comprising a diverting arm, wherein the diverting arm includes:

a first diverting arm magnet configured to repel a sample carrier magnet of a sample carrier approaching the first face of the diverting arm, and

a second diverting arm magnet configured to repel a sample carrier magnet of a sample carrier approaching the second face of the diverting arm.

5. The specimen transport system of claim 1, wherein the sample carrier magnet is a ring magnet.

6. The specimen transport system of claim 5, wherein the ring magnet is radially magnetized.

7. The specimen transport system of claim 5, wherein the ring magnet is coupled to the sample carrier such that the exterior of the ring magnet is flush with the external surface of the sample carrier.

8. The specimen transport system of claim 1, wherein the first sample carrier is transported toward the second sample carrier at a rate of 150 millimeters per second.

9. A specimen transport system comprising:

a sample carrier configured to transport a specimen container;

a sample carrier magnet coupled to the sample carrier;

a diverting arm magnet coupled to a diverting arm; and

wherein the diverting arm magnet is configured to repel the sample carrier magnet such that no contact occurs between the sample carrier and the diverting arm when the sample carrier is transported toward the diverting arm.

10. The specimen transport system of claim 9, wherein the diverting arm magnet is axially magnetized.

11. The specimen transport system of claim 9, wherein the sample carrier magnet is a ring magnet.

12. The specimen transport system of claim 11, wherein the ring magnet is radially magnetized.

13. The specimen transport system of claim 11, wherein the ring magnet is coupled to the sample carrier such that the exterior of the ring magnet is flush with the external surface of the sample carrier.

14. The specimen transport system of claim 9, wherein the sample carrier is transported toward the diverting arm at a rate of 150 millimeters per second.

15. A method for transporting specimens, the method comprising:

transporting, by a first motor of a first sample carrier, the first sample carrier;

transporting, by a second motor of a second sample carrier, the second sample carrier;

repelling, by a first sample carrier magnet of the first sample carrier, a second sample carrier magnet of the second sample carrier, such that no contact occurs between the first sample carrier and the second sample carrier when the first sample carrier is transported toward the second sample carrier.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

repelling, by a diverting arm magnet of a diverting arm, the first sample carrier magnet such that no contact occurs between the first sample carrier and the diverting arm when the first sample carrier is transported toward the diverting arm.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the conveying device transports the plurality of sample carriers at a rate of 150 millimeters per second.

18. A first sample carrier configured to transport at least one specimen container, comprising:

a first sample carrier magnet coupled to the sample carrier;

a motor of the sample carrier for moving the sample carrier independently from at least a second sample carrier,

wherein the first sample carrier magnet is configured to repel a second sample carrier magnet of the second sample carrier, such that no contact occurs between the first sample carrier and the second sample carrier when the first sample carrier is transported toward the second sample carrier.

19. The sample carrier assembly of claim 18 wherein the magnet is in the form of a ring, and encircles the sample carrier.