EP0471980A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Device and method for scanning and centering containers filled with fluid
Assignee: Kodak GmbH
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Filing: 1991-07-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An analyzer is described including a scanning means (1) for detecting different diameters of containers (4) arranged in a tray (5) and filled with body fluid, said scanning means (1) being arranged at an aspirating station (30). The scanning means (1) consists of two movable scanning elements (2 and 3) and a sensor (6) formed by an optoelectronic interrupter switch which is associated with said scanning elements (2 and 3) and can successively be covered by the flags (27, 29) mounted at the upper side of the scanning elements (2, 3). The sensor (6) produces a signal length (60) which depends on the diameter of container (4) positioned at the scanning station (46). Container (4) is thereby centered and fixed in tray (5) by means of scanning element (2) and spring element (21) and tray (5) is centered and fixed on transport path (40) by means of scanning element (3) and spring element (22). The signal length (60) produced by the scanning means (1) and fed to a microprocessor (55) of a control unit (50) is used for controlling the position and dip-in speed of a proboscis (36) of an aspirator (35) when body fluid is removed from a container (4).
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Peter c/o Kodak Aktiengesellschaft Würschum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/02; G01N35/026; G01N35/04; G01N2035/046; G01N2035/0467; G01N2035/0468; G01N2035/0474; G01N2035/0491; G01N2035/0493; G01N35/10; G01N35/1009; G01N2035/1025; G01N35/1095; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/119163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
Device for scanning and centering containers of different diameters filled with a liquid and arranged in a tray, in particular test tubes filled with a body fluid and fed to an aspirating station (30) for body fluids in an analyzer, characterized in that the scanning means (1) consists of two movable scanning elements (2, 3) and a sensor (6) associated with said elements (2) and (3).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanning elements (2, 3) can be moved individually or jointly from an initial position (12, 12') to an end position (13, 13').
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the scanning elements (2, 3) can be moved one after the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Device according to claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the sensor (6) is covered whenever the scanning element (2) is in the initial position (12) or the scanning element (3) is in its end position (13').
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the scanning elements (2, 3) and the sensor (6) are arranged on a support member (20).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Device according to claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the scanning elements (2, 3) are arranged in the upper region of the container (4) and are oriented normal to its central axis (8).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the scanning elements (2, 3) are arranged normal to a transport path (40) for the containers (4) held in tray (5) and in alignment to a center axis (31) of the aspirating station (30) for body fluids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
Device according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that the transport path (40) can be pivoted about a fulcrum (41) from a tray track (45) to a scanning station (46) for containers (4), and in that prior to its arrival at the scanning station (46) a container (4) to be scanned can be oriented along the transport path (40) with respect to its scanning position, i. e. aspirating position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
Device according to claims 1 through 8, characterized in that by means of spring elements (21, 22) the scanning elements (2, 3) can be moved to their initial positions (12, 12') in the direction of the transport path (40) and by means of the container (4) to be scanned and the tray (5) they can be moved to their end positions (13, 13') in the opposite direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the end position (13) of scanning element (2) is determined by the diameter of container (4) and the end position (13') of scanning element (3) is determined by the width of tray (5).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that in its initial position (12) the scanning element (2) extends beyond scanning element (3) by an amount which is larger than the largest admissible radius of a container (4).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Device according to claims 9 through 11, characterized in that in the scanning station (46) and the aspirating station (30) container (4) can be centered and fixed in tray (5) by means of the scanning element (2) and the tray (5) can be centered and fixed in the transport path (40) by means of scanning element (3).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that for controlling the aspirator (35) the electrical signals produced by the scanning means (1) in response to the diameter of container (4) are fed to a microprocessor (55) of a control unit (50).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Device according to claims 1 and 13, characterized in that the signal length (60) of sensor (6) depends on the diameter of container (4).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the signal length (60) can be detected by the pivot drive system of the transport path (40) by means of the number of stepping pulses (63) of the stepping motor (114).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
Method of scanning and centering containers of different diameters filled with a liquid and arranged in a tray, in particular test tubes filled with a body fluid and fed to an aspirating station (30) for body fluids in an analyzer, characterized in that for detecting the diameter of a container (4) the number of stepping pulses (63) of the stepping motor (114) in response to the signal length (60) of sensor (6) are counted by the microprocessor (55), and in that the data obtained are used for controlling the aspirator (35).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the dip-in depth of a proboscis (36) of the aspirator (35) into the body fluid of a container (4) is controlled in response to the control data obtained.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method according to claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the movement of the proboscis (36) to the center of the opening (9) of container (4) is controlled in response to the control data obtained.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the dip-in speed of the proboscis (36) of the aspirator (35) into the liquid in container (4) is controlled in response to the control data obtained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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