US3704568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the filling of petri dishes
Assignee: H Struers Chemiske Laboratorium
•
Filing: 1971-06-23
•
Granted: 1972-12-05
•
Expires: 1991-06-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for filling Petri dishes with cover comprises an alongated sterile chamber in which a dish and lid are fed forward in rectilinear paths in different levels from a stack of closed dishes in a hopper at one end of the sterile chamber, the dish being caused to drop down on the bottom of the chamber between slide rails that catch the edge of the lid. In one position of the travelling path the dish is filled with substrate, and in a subsequent position the lid is caused to drop down on the dish. Preferably the distance between the slide rails is adjustable.
Inventors
- 👤 Ornolf Duhring
- 👤 Lavritz Gudmund Damgaard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/40; B65B43/42; B65B43/44; C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/10; C12M23/50; C12M29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for filling Petri dishes each having a lid, said apparatus comprisIng an elongated sterile chamber, a hopper at one end of said sterile chamber, said hopper being constructed to receive a supply of Petri dishes with lid stacked upon one another, and being provided at its bottom with a passage opening permitting the passage of the lowermost dish from the hopper into the sterile chamber, a conveyor reciprocatable longitudinally of the sterile chamber and under the hopper, said conveyor having means engageable with a dish and a lid to convey same from the hopper through the sterile chamber, slide rails for supporting the edge of the lid over part of its travelling path in a level lower than that of the edge of the lid of the lowermost dish in the stack, a slide track for the dish in a level at a distance below that of said slide rails greater than the height of the dish, a filling outlet in a position below said slide rails and at a distance above said slide track greater than the height of a dish, and means for discharging a predetermined quantity of liquid substrate through said filling outlet while a dish is in a position thereunder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for filling Petri dishes each having a lid, said apparatus comprisIng an elongated sterile chamber, a hopper at one end of said sterile chamber, said hopper being constructed to receive a supply of Petri dishes with lid stacked upon one another, and being provided at its bottom with a passage opening permitting the passage of the lowermost dish from the hopper into the sterile chamber, a conveyor reciprocatable longitudinally of the sterile chamber and under the hopper, said conveyor having means engageable with a dish and a lid to convey same from the hopper through the sterile chamber, slide rails for supporting the edge of the lid over part of its travelling path in a level lower than that of the edge of the lid of the lowermost dish in the stack, a slide track for the dish in a level at a distance below that of said slide rails greater than the height of the dish, a filling outlet in a position below said slide rails and at a distance above said slide track greater than the height of a dish, and means for discharging a predetermined quantity of liquid substrate through said filling outlet while a dish is in a position thereunder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 in which said conveyor is constructed with an elevated platform for receiving dishes from said hopper, detaining means being provided for detaining a dish and lid against backward movement from a predetermined position at a distance from said hopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, in which the distance between said slide rails is adjustable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said slide rails are mounted on the side walls of said sterile chamber, means being provided for adjusting the distance between said side walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 in which means are provided for yieldably engaging the upper face of a lid when received on said slide rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, in which said yieldably engaging means comprise at least one pivotably mounted arm depending freely above the level of said slide rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said detaining means comprises a pawl mounted at the front side of said hopper, a stop engaging said pawl from the rear to define a position of rest of said pawl in which it depends in front of said passage opening, said pawl being rotatable upwards and away from said hopper when engaged by a dish with lid travelling through said passage opening, said pawl being constructed with a substantially vertical stop face for detaining a dish with lid against rearward movement and with a substantially horizontal stop face to engage the rearmost portion of a lid upon upward tilting of same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, in which said substantially vertical stop face is located at a distance in front of said passage opening and is connected through a rearwardly rounded portion with a portion of the pawl depending directly in front of said passage opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of stop blocks provided at the sides of the apparatus adjacent to said passage opening, and extending upwards from the level of the bottom of the hopper, the distance between said stop blocks being greater than the maximum diameter of a dish, but smaller than the minimum diameter of a lid, the height of said stop block above the bottom of the hopper being smaller than the minimum height of a dish as measured up to the edge of a lid in position thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3050915A
Cited
US3233640A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |