US3909203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Analysis system having random identification and labeling system
Assignee: Anatronics Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-04
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-08-04
Abstract
Abstract An identification system for labeling specimen tubes with machine-readable data for use in an automatic chemical analysis system, the identification system providing separate input data identifying selected analysis tests to be conducted on each specimen of a given batch, the identification system also permitting random placement of input specimens in the analysis hardware. The analysis system includes electronic means for determining the location of each specimen and for correlating with each specimen independent input data identifying a test applicable to each specimen.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Young
- 👤 Patrick L Randleman
- 👤 Roger C Wilborn
- 👤 Stanley J Andrzejewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1081; G01N35/1083; G01N35/109; G16; G16H; G16H10/00; G16H10/40; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0496; G01N2035/0498; G01N2035/1086; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO INPUT DATA FOR MEASURING THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PLURAL SPECIMENS TAKEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND LOCATIONS, COMPRISING: MEANS FOR PHYSICALLY LABELLING SAID SPECIMENS, MEANS FOR STORING SAID PLURAL LABELED SPECIMENS IN AN INDEXED ARRAY, SAID INDEXED ARRAY HAVING A PREDETERMINED ORDER, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID STORING MEANS FOR READING SAID LABEL ON EACH SAID SPECIMENS TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION DATA, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO INDEX SEQUENCING INPUT DATA FOR MOVING SAID READING MEANS TO SPECIFIED LOCATIONS WITHIN SAID INDEXED ARRAY, FIRST REGISTER MEANS FOR STORING IN CORRELATED REGISTER LOCATIOND SAID IDENTIFICATION DATA AND SAID INDEX SEQUENCING INPUT DATA FOR EACH OPERATION OF SAID READING MEANS, SECOND REGISTER MEANS FOR STORING IN CORRELATED REGISTER LOCATIONS INPUT IDENTIFICATION DATA RELATING TO EACH OF SAID SPECIMENS AND INPUT DATA INDICATIVE OF SELECTED CHEMICAL PROCESSES TO BE PERFORMED ON SELECTED ONES OF SAID SPECIMENS, AND COMPARATOR MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID FIRST REGISTER MEANS AND SAID SECOND REGISTER MEANS FOR COMPARING THE IDENTIFICATION DATA OF SAID REGISTERS TO PRODUCE OUTPUT DATA CORRESPONDING TO THE SELECTED TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED ON SPECIMENS AT SELECTED LOCATIONS IN SAID INDEXED ARRAY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO INPUT DATA FOR MEASURING THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PLURAL SPECIMENS TAKEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND LOCATIONS, COMPRISING: MEANS FOR PHYSICALLY LABELLING SAID SPECIMENS, MEANS FOR STORING SAID PLURAL LABELED SPECIMENS IN AN INDEXED ARRAY, SAID INDEXED ARRAY HAVING A PREDETERMINED ORDER, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID STORING MEANS FOR READING SAID LABEL ON EACH SAID SPECIMENS TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION DATA, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO INDEX SEQUENCING INPUT DATA FOR MOVING SAID READING MEANS TO SPECIFIED LOCATIONS WITHIN SAID INDEXED ARRAY, FIRST REGISTER MEANS FOR STORING IN CORRELATED REGISTER LOCATIOND SAID IDENTIFICATION DATA AND SAID INDEX SEQUENCING INPUT DATA FOR EACH OPERATION OF SAID READING MEANS, SECOND REGISTER MEANS FOR STORING IN CORRELATED REGISTER LOCATIONS INPUT IDENTIFICATION DATA RELATING TO EACH OF SAID SPECIMENS AND INPUT DATA INDICATIVE OF SELECTED CHEMICAL PROCESSES TO BE PERFORMED ON SELECTED ONES OF SAID SPECIMENS, AND COMPARATOR MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID FIRST REGISTER MEANS AND SAID SECOND REGISTER MEANS FOR COMPARING THE IDENTIFICATION DATA OF SAID REGISTERS TO PRODUCE OUTPUT DATA CORRESPONDING TO THE SELECTED TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED ON SPECIMENS AT SELECTED LOCATIONS IN SAID INDEXED ARRAY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus for measuring chemical properties as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for storing comprises an arcuate indexed array including plural arcuate segments, each segment storing specimens at spaced arcuate locations, said locations in each of said segments being radially aligned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus for measuring the chemical properties of specimens as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for reading said label comprises photo-optical means mounted to rotate in an arcuate pattern adjacent said indexed array, said photo-optical means being responsive to input data to sequentially read said label on radially aligned specimens from a fixed location in said arcuate pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for measuring the chemical properties of plural specimens as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for storing specimens comprises plural cylindrical specimen tubes and wherein said means for reading said label comprises: photo-optical means mounted adjacent said tubes; and means for rotating said tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus for measuring the chemical properties of specimens as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said tubes comprises means for selectively rotating each of two tubes both of which are adjacent said photo-optical means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for measuring the chemical properties of specimens as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for storing said plural specimens comprises a pluraliTy of cylindrical tubes and wherein said means for physically labeling said specimens comprises: means for aligning a label relative to each of said tubes; and means for applying said aligned label to said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus for measuring the chemical properties of specimens as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for aligning comprises a card removably attached to said labels and wherein said means for aligning comprises an edge of said card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A data card system for identifying specimens in tubes for chemical analysis, comprising: a pair of card portions including identical machinereadable data indicia; means permitting easy removal of one of said card portions from the other; means on said card for aligning one of said tubes relative to said card; and means for transferring said one of said portions from said card to said aligned tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A data card system for identifying specimens in tubes for chemical analysis, comprising: a pair of card portions including identical machinereadable data indicia; means permitting easy removal of one of said card portions from the other; means on said card for aligning one of said tubes relative to said card; and means for transferring said one of said portions from said card to said aligned tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A data card system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for transferring comprises adhesive on said one of said portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A data card system as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for permitting easy removal comprises perforations separating said pair of card portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A data card system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for aligning comprises relatively perpendicular edges of said card along which said tubes are placed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A data card system as defined in claim 8 wherein the other one of said card portions includes additional machine-readable data indicia identifying specific tests to be conducted on said specimens during said chemical analysis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for reading machine-readable data from a plurality of tubes arranged in aligned pairs comprising: a photo-optical system sensitive to machine-readable data positioned on opposed sides of said system; means for positioning said photo-optical system between selected aligned pairs of said tubes; means for alternately rotating each of said aligned pair of tubes; and means for selectively energizing said photo-optical system to be sensitive to data positioned on the side of said system having a rotating tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for reading machine-readable data from a plurality of tubes arranged in aligned pairs comprising: a photo-optical system sensitive to machine-readable data positioned on opposed sides of said system; means for positioning said photo-optical system between selected aligned pairs of said tubes; means for alternately rotating each of said aligned pair of tubes; and means for selectively energizing said photo-optical system to be sensitive to data positioned on the side of said system having a rotating tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for reading machine-readable data as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for alternately rotating comprises: a motor mounted on said photo-optical system for rotating a main drive shaft; a drive wheel rigidly mounted on said main drive shaft; a slave wheel mounted to rotate about said main drive wheel, the periphery of said slave wheel being in contact with the periphery of said main drive wheel; and means for alternately rotating said slave wheel about the said main drive wheel to bias said slave wheel against alternative ones of said aligned pair of tubes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for reading data from a plurality of tubes as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for alternately rotating said slave wheel comprises a solenoid mounted on said apparatus and connected to said slave wheel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for reading data from a plurality of tubes as defined in claim 13 wherein said photo-optical system comprises a plurality of light emitters and light sensors arranged in pairs, said emitter-sensor pairs mounted on said photo-optical systems to emit and sense light over a predetermined limited area on one of said pair of tubes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for reading data from a plurality of tubes as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for selectively energizing comprises a clock for producing a periodic signal, said signal connected to alternately energize selected ones of said light emitters and additionally connected to alternate said means for rotating said aligned pair of tubes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
A data card system for identifying specimens for chemical analysis, comprising: machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively identifying said card from other similar cards; machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively identifying the source of one of said specimens; machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively idEntifying a plurality of analyses to be conducted on said one of said specimens; a removable card portion including machine-readable data indicia identical to said data for positively identifying said card; and means for attaching said removable card portion to said one of said specimens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
A data card system for identifying specimens for chemical analysis, comprising: machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively identifying said card from other similar cards; machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively identifying the source of one of said specimens; machine-readable data indicia on said card for positively idEntifying a plurality of analyses to be conducted on said one of said specimens; a removable card portion including machine-readable data indicia identical to said data for positively identifying said card; and means for attaching said removable card portion to said one of said specimens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A data card system as defined in claim 18 additionally comprising: means for aligning said removable card portion along a predetermined axis of said one of said specimens.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of identifying a specimen contained within a tube for analysis purposes, comprising: marking a card with machine-readable data indicative of the analysis tests to be performed on said specimen; marking said card with machine-readable data indicative of the source of said specimen; aligning said tube on said card; and pressing said aligned tube against said card to transfer an identification label from said card to said tube.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of identifying a specimen contained within a tube for analysis purposes, comprising: marking a card with machine-readable data indicative of the analysis tests to be performed on said specimen; marking said card with machine-readable data indicative of the source of said specimen; aligning said tube on said card; and pressing said aligned tube against said card to transfer an identification label from said card to said tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method of identifying a specimen as defined in claim 20 additionally comprising: repeating said marking, aligning and pressing steps for a plurality of tubes and cards; placing said tubes in random order in an analysis system; placing said cards in said analysis system in random order; and correlating said machine-readable data on said cards with said identification labels on said tubes within said system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method of identifying a specimen for analysis purposes as defined in claim 21 wherein said correlating step comprises: photo-optically scanning the identification label on each of said tubes to produce identification data; producing data indicative of the location within said system of each of said tubes; storing said data indicative of the location of said tubes and said identification data in a register; reading said machine-readable data on said cards; and comparing said machine-readable data with the data stored in said register.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of identifying a specimen for analysis purposes as defined in claim 20 additionally comprising the steps of: separating said tube from said card; and correlating said tube with said card in accordance with said identification label.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of measuring the chemical properties of plural specimens taken at different times and locations comprising: physically labeling said specimens; marking a card corresponding to each of said specimens with machine-readable data identifying said specimens and with machine-readable data identifying analysis tests to be conducted on said specimen; storing said plural labeled specimens in an indexed array having a predetermined order; photo-optically reading said label on each of said specimens within said indexed array to produce identification data; storing in a register said photo-optically read identification data and data corresponding to positions within said array in a first register; reading said machine-readable data on said cards; storing said data read from said cards in a second register; and comparing the data in said first register with the data in said second register to produce output data corresponding to the selected tests to be conducted on specimens at selected locations in said indexed array.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of measuring the chemical properties of plural specimens taken at different times and locations comprising: physically labeling said specimens; marking a card corresponding to each of said specimens with machine-readable data identifying said specimens and with machine-readable data identifying analysis tests to be conducted on said specimen; storing said plural labeled specimens in an indexed array having a predetermined order; photo-optically reading said label on each of said specimens within said indexed array to produce identification data; storing in a register said photo-optically read identification data and data corresponding to positions within said array in a first register; reading said machine-readable data on said cards; storing said data read from said cards in a second register; and comparing the data in said first register with the data in said second register to produce output data corresponding to the selected tests to be conducted on specimens at selected locations in said indexed array.
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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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |