Patent US3898433A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3898433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Label reading and writing on cylindrical container
Assignee: American Science and Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-27
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1993-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A test tube with a label is axially fed into a label processing machine and then rotated for label scan processing in the circumferential direction. The machine comprises scanning label processors including read and/or write means for extracting label data or modifying the label data. A tube transport assembly in the machine comprises means for guiding axial tube movement, locking the tube in an axial position for label processing, precisely aligning the tube with label processing equipment in the machine and rotating the aligned test tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert W Sallet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:22
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3412; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/54; B01L3/545; B01L3/5453
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for scanning an essentially cylindrical labeled specimen container comprising, rough guiding means for guiding said specimen container into a scanning position through insertion movement along a direction generally coincident with the nominal cylindrical axis of said specimen container, means for positioning said specimen container axially so that a predetermined label portion thereof is at a predetermined axial scanning position, means for rollably driving and supporting said specimen container for rotating said container about its nominal cylindrical axis to effect circumferential scanning of said label portion, means located at said axial scanning position for performing at least one of reading and writing functions on the label portion during said scanning, wherein said rough guiding and positioning means form a container rest which elastically yields from an initial axial position to said axial scanning position upon axially pressing said container against said rest until said axial scanning position is reached by the said label portion of the container, means for locking said rest in said axial scanning position and for unlocking said rest and returning it from said axial scanning position to said initial position for container ejection, said driving and supporting means comprise at least one bearing means having an axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of a container positioned for scanning located adjacent the container scanning position for exerting a reaction force against an inserted and locked container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for scanning an essentially cylindrical labeled specimen container comprising, rough guiding means for guiding said specimen container into a scanning position through insertion movement along a direction generally coincident with the nominal cylindrical axis of said specimen container, means for positioning said specimen container axially so that a predetermined label portion thereof is at a predetermined axial scanning position, means for rollably driving and supporting said specimen container for rotating said container about its nominal cylindrical axis to effect circumferential scanning of said label portion, means located at said axial scanning position for performing at least one of reading and writing functions on the label portion during said scanning, wherein said rough guiding and positioning means form a container rest which elastically yields from an initial axial position to said axial scanning position upon axially pressing said container against said rest until said axial scanning position is reached by the said label portion of the container, means for locking said rest in said axial scanning position and for unlocking said rest and returning it from said axial scanning position to said initial position for container ejection, said driving and supporting means comprise at least one bearing means having an axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of a container positioned for scanning located adjacent the container scanning position for exerting a reaction force against an inserted and locked container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein, said bearing axis is aligned with said means for reading and/or writing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein, said drive and support means comprise a drive roller with an axis parallel to the nominal cylindrical axis of a container positioned for scanning, said drive roller being located adjacent the container scanning location for exerting a circumferential driving force against an inserted container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein, said scan processing means comPrise read and write heads and corresponding bearings aligned with each of said read and write heads, said drive roller axis opposing said bearing axis across the diameter of said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising, means for forming a fixed chassis, means for forming a movable chassis, means for shifting the position of said movable chassis relative to the fixed chassis, and wherein the said scan processing means and the container rest are mounted on said fixed chassis, and the said driving and supporting means comprise a drive roller mounted on said movable chassis and said bearing means mounted on said fixed chassis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein, the driving and supporting means further comprise a motor and power train drive for said drive roller connected thereto and mounted on said movable chassis therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein, the said locking means comprise means defining a translatable and pivotable locking recess which is arranged in relation to said container rest to be moved into locking position by said rest upon movement thereof to the said second position thereof and to be translated out of locking position by an external force and means for applying said external force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said container rest comprises a pivotable lever arm and said recess defining means are forwardly pivotable into locking position to grasp the lever and rearwardly translatable for unlocking.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the said locking means further comprise first spring means loadable by said rearward translation of the locking element to provide resetting forward translation force thereto, and second spring means connected to said recess forming means and loadable by movement of said rest to, and locking in, said second position thereof to provide a resetting pivoting action to said recess forming means upon unlocking of said rest and container ejection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprising means for forming a fixed chassis, means for forming a movable chassis, means for shifting the position of said movable chassis relative to the fixed chassis, and wherein the said scan processing means and the container rest are mounted on said fixed chassis, and said driving and supporting means comprise a drive roller mounted on said movable chassis and said bearing means mounted on said fixed chassis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the driving and supporting means further comprise a motor and power train drive for said drive roller connected thereto and mounted on said movable chassis therewith.
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) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |