Patent US3844896A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3844896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for performing bacteriological tests automatically
Assignee: Lever Brothers Co
•
Filing: 1973-06-20
•
Granted: 1974-10-29
•
Expires: 1993-06-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for bacteriological sampling in which Petri dishes are automatically provided with the ingredients for performing bacteriological colony counts. Sequentially diluted samples can be prepared by the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 A Sharpe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:28
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L99/00; B01L3/00; B01L3/02; B01L3/021; C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/10; C12M23/48; C12M23/50; C12M27/00; C12M27/10; C12M29/00; C12M29/06; C12M33/00; C12M33/04; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/36; G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/38; G01N35/00; G01N35/0099; B01F; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/23; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0401; G01N2035/0403; G01N2035/0405; G01N35/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A BACTERIOLOGICAL SAMPLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A MEDIA DISH STORE, A SAMPLE AND DILUENT SUPPLY STATION, A GELLING AGENT SUPPLY STATION, A DISCHARGE STATION, AND A MEDIA DISH TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING EACH MEDIA DISH FROM SAID STORE AND TO EACH OF THE STATIONS IN TURN, THE SAMPLE AND DILUENT SUPPLY STATION COMPRISING A ROTARY DISH CARRIER FOR ROTATING A DISH WHEN AT SAID STATION TO MIX LIQUID IN SAID DISH, A DILUENT SUPPLY MEANS, AND A BACTERIOLOGICAL SAMPLE PIPETTING MEANS WHICH IS ARRANGED TO SUPPLY A SAMPLE TO EACH DISH IN TURN AND AFTER MIXING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE DISH UNDER STERILE CONDITIONS A PORTION OF MIXED DILUTED SAMPLE AND HOLD SAID PORTION FOR SUPPLY TO A FOLLOWING DISH, SAID SAMPLE PIPETTING MEANS COMPRISING A DEVICE WHICH IS ARRANGED TO EXTRUDE A TUBULAR NOZZLE BEFORE USE, MEANS TO SEVER SAID NOZZLE AFTER USE, AND THE GELLING AGENT SUPPLY STATION COMPRISING GELLING AGENT SUPPLY MEANS, AND A ROTARY DISH CARRIER FOR ROTATING THE DISH TO MIX DILUTED SAMPLE WITH GELLING AGENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A BACTERIOLOGICAL SAMPLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A MEDIA DISH STORE, A SAMPLE AND DILUENT SUPPLY STATION, A GELLING AGENT SUPPLY STATION, A DISCHARGE STATION, AND A MEDIA DISH TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING EACH MEDIA DISH FROM SAID STORE AND TO EACH OF THE STATIONS IN TURN, THE SAMPLE AND DILUENT SUPPLY STATION COMPRISING A ROTARY DISH CARRIER FOR ROTATING A DISH WHEN AT SAID STATION TO MIX LIQUID IN SAID DISH, A DILUENT SUPPLY MEANS, AND A BACTERIOLOGICAL SAMPLE PIPETTING MEANS WHICH IS ARRANGED TO SUPPLY A SAMPLE TO EACH DISH IN TURN AND AFTER MIXING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE DISH UNDER STERILE CONDITIONS A PORTION OF MIXED DILUTED SAMPLE AND HOLD SAID PORTION FOR SUPPLY TO A FOLLOWING DISH, SAID SAMPLE PIPETTING MEANS COMPRISING A DEVICE WHICH IS ARRANGED TO EXTRUDE A TUBULAR NOZZLE BEFORE USE, MEANS TO SEVER SAID NOZZLE AFTER USE, AND THE GELLING AGENT SUPPLY STATION COMPRISING GELLING AGENT SUPPLY MEANS, AND A ROTARY DISH CARRIER FOR ROTATING THE DISH TO MIX DILUTED SAMPLE WITH GELLING AGENT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a store for agar, means for supplying a quantity of said agar to the gelling agent supply station to serve as a gelling agent, and means for supplying a further quantity of said agar to the sample supply means for extrusion to form a nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said media dish transport system is a rotating carrier having a plurality of arms, each arm having means to releasably hold at least one media dish, and means to rotate the carrier by an indexing movement to the dish store to receive a dish therefrom then into juxtaposition with each of the supply stations in turn for supply and mixing of sample, diluent and gelling agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said media dish transport is on in-line conveyor having a plurality of cradles for carrying media dishes, means for moving the conveyor by an indexing movement to bring each cradle in turn to the dish store to receive a dish therefrom and then into juxtaposition with each of the supply stations in turn for supply and mixing of sample diluent and gelling agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each media dish has a lid and the media dish transport system comprises lid removal means arranged for removal of the lid from each media dish in turn prior to supply and mixing of sample, diluent and gelling agent, and lid replacement means for replacement of the lid after supply and mixing of sample, diluent and gelling agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 comprising labelling means for labelling said dish in dependence on the supply and mixing of sample, diluent and gelling agent therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said labelling means is arranged to apply the label to the dish lid during completion of ingredient supply and mixing with the dish.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3050915A
Cited
US3501379A
Cited
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 |