Patent US4039233A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3879795A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3879795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cleaning the inner and/or outer surfaces of a cuvette
Assignee: Greiner Electronic AG
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Filing: 1973-06-13
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-06-13
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for cleaning the inner and/or outer surfaces of the receptacle of a fluid handling system, for example, the transparent cuvette of a fluid-specimen photometric inspection system, characterized in that a cleaning fluid is drawn by suction successively across the outer surfaces of the cuvette from the bottom wall toward the top wall, inwardly across the top wall toward the fluid-receiving cavity contained therein, and downwardly along the inner cavity wall surfaces of the cuvette, thereby to remove contaminates from and to clean the surfaces of the cuvette. A cleaning head is provided with a chamber for receiving in spaced relation the cuvette when arranged in an inverted orientation, whereby rinsing or other fluid may be introduced into the space between the outer surfaces of the cuvette and the cleaning head. Suction means extend upwardly from the bottom wall of the cleaning head chamber into the cuvette cavity and terminate in an orifice adjacent the bottom of the cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Gfeller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:20
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for cleaning the transparent cuvette of a fluid specimen photometric testing system, comprising a. means for supporting the cuvette in an inverted condition; b. a cleaning head member containing at its upper end an upwardly directed open-topped chamber for receiving said inverted cuvette, said head member including bottom, side and end walls defining said chamber; c. suction means extending from the bottom wall of said chamber upwardly within the cavity contained in said cuvette, said suction means containing a vertical suction passage having a first orifice at its upper end adjacent and spaced from the bottom portion of the cuvette cavity; d. means for initially supplying a fluid in said chamber adjacent the upper portion of the space between said cuvette and said side walls; and e. means subsequently connecting the lower end of said suction passage with a vacuum source, whereby said fluid is drawn by suction downwardly along the cuvette outer wall surfaces, inwardly along the end surface of the cuvette, upwardly along the inner wall surfaces of the cuvette cavity, and downwardly through said suction passage, thereby to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the cuvette.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for cleaning the transparent cuvette of a fluid specimen photometric testing system, comprising a. means for supporting the cuvette in an inverted condition; b. a cleaning head member containing at its upper end an upwardly directed open-topped chamber for receiving said inverted cuvette, said head member including bottom, side and end walls defining said chamber; c. suction means extending from the bottom wall of said chamber upwardly within the cavity contained in said cuvette, said suction means containing a vertical suction passage having a first orifice at its upper end adjacent and spaced from the bottom portion of the cuvette cavity; d. means for initially supplying a fluid in said chamber adjacent the upper portion of the space between said cuvette and said side walls; and e. means subsequently connecting the lower end of said suction passage with a vacuum source, whereby said fluid is drawn by suction downwardly along the cuvette outer wall surfaces, inwardly along the end surface of the cuvette, upwardly along the inner wall surfaces of the cuvette cavity, and downwardly through said suction passage, thereby to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the cuvette.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including auxiliary suction passages contained in said chamber side walls and having second orifices arranged above said fluid supply means for communication with the upper portion of the space between said chamber walls and said cuvette, and means connecting said auxiliary suction passages with said vacuum source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid comprises a quantity of rinsing liquid, and further wherein said suction passage is connected with said vacuum source for a sufficient period of time to effect complete removal of said rinsing liquid from, and thereby completely dry, the inner and outer surfaces of said cuvette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including washing means arranged remote from said cleaning head member for initially introducing cleansing fluid into the cuvette cavity; and conveyor means for transporting said cuvette from said washing means to said cleaning head member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor having vertically spaced upper and lower horizonital runs, said cuvette being carried by said conveyor means with the cuvette cavity directed outwardly therefrom, said washing means and said cleaning head being arranged adjacent the lower run of said conveyor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said endless conveyor means is operable in a step-by-step manner, and further wherein said cleaning head is adapted for vertical reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor to insert said suction means within and to withdraw said suction means from said cavity, respectively, during dwell periods of the conveyor travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including a plurality of laterally spaced first vertical spacer ribs arranged on the lower portions of the side and end walls of the cleaning head chamber for engagement with the corresponding external wall surfaces of said cuvette, thereby to support said cuvette in spaced relation from said chamber side and end walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, and further including a plurality of laterally spaced second vertical spacer ribs arranged on the walls of said suction means for engagement with the wall surfaces of the cuvette cavity, said suction member containing a vertical suction passage having An inlet at its upper end adjacent the cavity bottom wall of the downwardly directed cuvette, said suction passage being connected at its lower end with a source of suction pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said side walls contains adjacent its upper end rinse orifice means for supplying said rinsing fluid in the space between said external surfaces of said cuvette and the corresponding side wall surfaces of said chamber, whereby when said suction passage is connected with said suction source, said rinsing fluid is drawn downwardly along the external surfaces of said cuvette, upwardly along the cavity inner wall surface, and downwardly through said suction passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said rinsing head side walls include adjacent their upper ends above said rinse orifice means: a. a plurality of spaced upper side wall stop feet for engaging the adjacent external surfaces of the downwardly directed cuvette; and b. auxiliary suction orifices for withdrawing by suction fluid contained in the upper portion of said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the upper portions of said rinsing head side walls are sectional and are connected for movement toward and away from each other, and further including spring means biasing said side walls toward each other into engagement with said cuvette.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, and further including means for displacing said cleaning head toward said lower run in timed relation to the transport of said empty cuvettes, thereby to effect reception of a given cuvette by the chamber of the cleaning head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |