US3844428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tray storage and handling system for scintillation spectrometers and the like
Assignee: Revvity Health Sciences Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-07
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1992-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for storing and handling a plurality of trays of sample vials which are conveyed past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray. In the illustrative arrangement, the vials are transferred to a counting station where the radioactivity of the samples is measured. The system for storing and handling the trays includes a pair of vertically spaced, parallel conveyors each of which is adapted to support a plurality of trays. A pair of elevators at opposite ends of the two conveyors transfer the trays between the two conveyors, and reciprocating transfer arms on the conveyors transfer the trays between the elevators and the conveyors. The transfer arm on the lower conveyor also serves to index the trays past the transfer station, with the indexing movement being stopped each time a row of vials is transferred out of a tray located at the transfer station. Limit switches associated with the elevators and the transfer arms control the movement thereof. Each of the conveyors comprises a plurality of tray pallets which are continually cycled through the system regardless of whether a tray is contained in any given pallet at any given time.
Inventors
- 👤 R Olsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01T; G01T7/00; G01T7/08; G01N2035/0401; G01N2035/0406; G01N2035/041; G01N2035/0418; G01N2035/0422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of trays along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, means responsive to the transfer of a tray from said first conveyor to said second conveyor for actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray off of said second conveyor, and means responsive to the transfer of a tray from said second conveyor to said first conveyor for actuating said indexing means to resume the indexing of trays along said first conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of trays along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, means responsive to the transfer of a tray from said first conveyor to said second conveyor for actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray off of said second conveyor, and means responsive to the transfer of a tray from said second conveyor to said first conveyor for actuating said indexing means to resume the indexing of trays along said first conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said conveyors comprises horizontal track means, and said trays are carried on a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said track means and said transfer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes means for latching the tray pallet positioned at the entrance end of both the first and second conveyors so as to avoid interference with said transfer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes a bank of switches for generating electrical signals representing the particular tray present at said transfer station at any given time, and means on said tray pallets for tripping different combinations of the switches in said bank as different tray pallets are indexed past said transfer station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said transfer means comprises an elevator for moving said tray pallets from one of said conveyors to the other, and a reciprocating transfer arm having an advanced position where the arm engages a tray pallet on the elevator when the elevator is aligned with the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred, and a retracted position where the arm positions the engaged tray on the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the movement of said transfer arm from said advanced position to said retracted position advances all the tray pallets on said conveyor by one tray position, thereby advancing a tray pallet from said conveyor onto the elevator at the opposite end of said conveyor from the end at which the tray pallets are received from the other elevator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes switch means responsive to movement of the transfer arm associated with said first conveyor to said retracted position for stopping movement of said transfer arm and energizing said elevators to move them from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, thereby moving a tray pallet from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes switch means responsive to movement of said elevators from said first conveyOr to said second conveyor for actuating the transfer arm associated with said second conveyor to move said transfer arm to its advanced position to engage the tray pallet on the elevator at the inlet end of said second conveyor, and then to its retracted position to move the engaged tray pallet onto said second conveyor while advancing all the other tray pallets on said second conveyor and advancing the lead pallet onto the elevator at the exit end of said second conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes switch means responsive to movement of the transfer arm associated with said second conveyor to its retracted position for stopping movement of said transfer arm and energizing said elevators to move them from said second conveyor to said first conveyor, thereby moving a tray pallet from said second conveyor to said first conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes switch means responsive to movement of said elevators from said second conveyor to said first conveyor for actuating the transfer arm associated with said first conveyor to move said transfer arm to its advanced position to engage the tray pallet on the elevator at the inlet end of said first conveyor, and then initiating the indexing movement of the engaged tray along said first conveyor while indexing all the other tray pallets on said first conveyor and advancing the lead pallet onto the elevator at the exit end of said first conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes latching means for holding the tray pallet at the exit end of said second conveyor in position during the movement of said elevators, and means for releasing said latching means in response to movement of said elevators from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes positive stop means for stopping said elevators in accurate alignment with said conveyors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes horizontal positioning means for automatically positioning said elevators in predetermined horizontal positions in response to movement of said elevators from one conveyor to another.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said method comprising the steps of placing said trays on a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of said trays for movement along substantially parallel paths, indexing the trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, stopping the indexing of said trays along said first conveyor, and transferring a tray from said first conveyor to a second conveyor in response to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station; transferring a tray from said second conveyor onto said first conveyor in response to the transfer of a tray from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, and then resuming the indexing of trays along said first conveyor in response to the transfer of a tray from said second conveyor to said first conveyor.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said method comprising the steps of placing said trays on a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of said trays for movement along substantially parallel paths, indexing the trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, stopping the indexing of said trays along said first conveyor, and transferring a tray from said first conveyor to a second conveyor in response to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station; transferring a tray from said second conveyor onto said first conveyor in response to the transfer of a tray from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, and then resuming the indexing of trays along said first conveyor in response to the transfer of a tray from said second conveyor to said first conveyor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said trays are carried on tray pallets which are advanced along said conveyors regardless of whether a tray is present on any given pallet at any given time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said pallets are carried by two horizontal tracks, and said pallets are transferred between said tracks by a pair of elevators at opposite ends of the tracks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein a pallet is transferred from said first conveyor onto a first one of said elevators each time a complete pallet is indexed past said transfer station, and said elevators are then moved from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the pallet is transferred frOm said first elevator onto said second conveyor upon the arrival of said elevator at said second conveyor, and at the same time a pallet is transferred from said second conveyor to the second elevator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said elevators are moved from said second conveyor upon completion of the transfer of said pallet from said second conveyor to said second elevator, and the pallet on said second elevator is transferred to said first conveyor upon the arrival of said elevators at said first conveyor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyors and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, and means for latching the tray pallet positioned at the entrance end of both the first and second conveyors so as to avoid interference with said transfer means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyors and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, and means for latching the tray pallet positioned at the entrance end of both the first and second conveyors so as to avoid interference with said transfer means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along differnet paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyor and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, each of said transfer means comprising an elevator for moving said tray pallets from one of said conveyors to the other, a reciprocating transfer arm having an advanced position where the arm engages a tray pallet on the elevator when the elevator is aligned with the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred, and a retracted position where the arm positions the engaged tray on the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred, latching means for holding the tray pallet at the exit end of said second conveyor in position during the movement of said elevators, and means in response to movement of said elevators from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along differnet paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyor and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing a complete tray past said transfer station for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, each of said transfer means comprising an elevator for moving said tray pallets from one of said conveyors to the other, a reciprocating transfer arm having an advanced position where the arm engages a tray pallet on the elevator when the elevator is aligned with the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred, and a retracted position where the arm positions the engaged tray on the conveyor to which the tray pallet is being transferred, latching means for holding the tray pallet at the exit end of said second conveyor in position during the movement of said elevators, and means in response to movement of said elevators from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyors and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer staTion for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, a bank of switches for generating electrical signals representing the particular tray present at said transfer station at any given time, and means on said tray pallets for tripping different combinations of the switches in said bank as different tray pallets are indexed past said transfer station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said apparatus comprising the combination of a plurality of tray conveyors adapted to support a plurality of trays for movement along different paths, transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors, means for indexing trays along a first one of said conveyors to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station, a plurality of tray pallets guided and supported by said conveyors and said transfer means, means responsive to the indexing of a complete tray past said transfer staTion for stopping the indexing of tray pallets along said first conveyor and actuating said transfer means to transfer a tray pallet from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, a bank of switches for generating electrical signals representing the particular tray present at said transfer station at any given time, and means on said tray pallets for tripping different combinations of the switches in said bank as different tray pallets are indexed past said transfer station.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said method comprising the steps of placing n (wherein n is any whole integer) trays on each of m (wherein m is any whole integer) tray conveyors each of which is adapted to support n trays for movement along substantially parallel paths, placing an additional tray on a first transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors so that a total of (n X m) + 1 trays are held by said conveyors and transfer means; advancing said additional tray from said transfer means onto a first one of said conveyors so as to index the n trays along said first conveyor to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station while advancing a tray from said first conveyor onto a second transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors; stopping the indexing of said trays along said first conveyor each time a complete tray is indexed past said transfer station; transferring the tray on said second transfer means from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, and advancing said tray from said second transfer means onto said second conveyor so as to move the trays along said second conveyor and advance a new tray from said second conveyor onto said first transfer means; and transferring the new tray on said first transfer means from said second conveyor to said first conveyor and advancing said new tray from said first transfer means onto said first conveyor to resume the indexing of trays along said first conveyor.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
291 words
A method of conveying a plurality of trays of sample vials past a transfer station where successive transverse rows of vials are transferred from the tray to an operating station and then returned to the tray, said method comprising the steps of placing n (wherein n is any whole integer) trays on each of m (wherein m is any whole integer) tray conveyors each of which is adapted to support n trays for movement along substantially parallel paths, placing an additional tray on a first transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors so that a total of (n X m) + 1 trays are held by said conveyors and transfer means; advancing said additional tray from said transfer means onto a first one of said conveyors so as to index the n trays along said first conveyor to align successive transverse rows of vials in the trays on said first conveyor with said transfer station while advancing a tray from said first conveyor onto a second transfer means for transferring trays between said conveyors; stopping the indexing of said trays along said first conveyor each time a complete tray is indexed past said transfer station; transferring the tray on said second transfer means from said first conveyor to a second conveyor, and advancing said tray from said second transfer means onto said second conveyor so as to move the trays along said second conveyor and advance a new tray from said second conveyor onto said first transfer means; and transferring the new tray on said first transfer means from said second conveyor to said first conveyor and advancing said new tray from said first transfer means onto said first conveyor to resume the indexing of trays along said first conveyor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |