Automatic injecting apparatus

Claim 2

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein said first means comprises: (e) a fluid motor; (f) third means for filtering the fluid input to said fluid motor; (g) fourth means for controlling the pressure of the fluid input to said fluid motor; and (h) fifth means for venting an accidental increase in the pressure of the fluid input to said fourth means.

Claim 3

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement wherein: said first means comprises means for retaining said syringe in its second position.

Claim 4

In a device as recited in claim 2, the further improvement comprising: sixth means for adjusting the amount by which the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate when said syringe is in its second position.

Claim 5

A device as recited in claim 3, wherein said sixth means comprises: a first slotted block on which said first means is carried and a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block.

Claim 6

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement comprising: sixth means for adjusting the amount by which the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate when said syringe is in its second position.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 5, wherein said sixth means comprises: a first slotted block on which said first means is carried and a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block.

Claim 8

In a device as recited in claim 5, the further improvement comprising: seventh means for adjusting the position of said syringe in the horizontal plane and in the direction perpendicular to its direction of motion.

Claim 9

A device as recited in claim 7, wherein said seventh means comprises: a second slotted block on which said first means is carried and a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said second slotted block.

Claim 10

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement comprising: sixth means for adjusting the position of said syringe in the horizontal plane and in the direction perpendicular to its direction of action.

Claim 11

A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said sixth means comprises: a first slotted block on which said first means is carried and a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block.

Claim 12

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement wherein: said second means comprise a microvalve carried on said work plate on the same side as the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device and a housing carried by said work plate and containing said microvalve, at least a portion of said housing being transparent, whereby the user of the device can view said microvalve through said housing.

Claim 13

In a device as recited in claim 11, the further improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has a longitudinal open-topped slot and a transverse open-topped slot intersecting the longitudinal open-topped slot, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having a collar, said shaft being sized and positioned to fit into the longitudinal open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment and said collar being sized and positioned to fit into the transverse open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 14

In a device as recited in claim 12, the further improvement wherein: said block is made out of a resilient material and the width of the open-topped slot therein is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held against vertical motion by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 15

In a device as recited in claim 12, the further improvement wherein: said first means comprises means for retaining said syringe in its second position.

Claim 16

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has a longitudinal open-topped slot and a transverse open-topped slot intersecting the longitudinal open-topped slot, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having a collar, said shaft being sized and positioned to fit into the longitudinal open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment and said collar being sized and positioned to fit into the transverse open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 17

In a device as recited in claim 15, the further improvement wherein: said block is made out of a resilient material and the width of the open-topped slot therein is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held against vertical motion by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 18

In a device as recited in claim 1, the further improvement comprising: sixth means for counting the number of times said first means has been actuated.

Claim 19

A device as recited in claim 17, wherein said sixth means comprising: seventh means for counting down from a preset number to zero.

Claim 20

A device as recited in claim 18, and further comprising: means for providing an audible signal when said seventh means has reached zero.

Claim 21

In a device as recited in claim 18, the further improvement comprising: means for shutting off the device when said seventh means has reached zero.

Claim 22

A device as recited in claim 18, wherein: said sixth means comprises eighth means for counting up from zero.

Claim 23

A device as recited in claim 17, wherein said sixth means comprises: seventh means for counting up from zero.

Claim 24

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: said second means comprise a microvalve carried on said work plate on the same side as the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device and a housing carried by said work plate and containing said microvalve, at least a portion of said housing being transparent, whereby the user of the device can view said microvalve through said housing.

Claim 25

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: said second means comprise a microvalve carried on said work plate on the same side as the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device and a housing carried by said work plate and containing said microvalve, at least a portion of said housing being transparent, whereby the user of the device can view said microvalve through said housing.

Claim 26

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has a longitudinal open-topped slot and a transverse open-topped slot intersecting the longitudinal open-topped slot, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having a collar, said shaft being sized and positioned to fit into the longitudinal open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment and said collar being sized and positioned to fit into the transverse open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 27

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has a longitudinal open-topped slot and a transverse open-topped slot intersecting the longitudinal open-topped slot, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having a collar, said shaft being sized and positioned to fit into the longitudinal open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment and said collar being sized and positioned to fit into the transverse open-topped slot in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 28

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein said first means comprise: (e) third means for producing a short, phased motion of said syringe regardless of how long said second means detects the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate; and (f) fourth means for retaining said syringe in its second position.

Claim 29

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein said first means comprise: (e) third means for producing a short, phased motion of said syringe regardless of how long said second means detects the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate; and (f) fourth means for retaining said syringe in its second position.

Claim 30

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein said first means comprises: (e) a fluid motor; (f) third means for filtering the fluid input to said fluid motor; and (g) fourth means for controlling the pressure of the fluid input to said fluid motor.

Claim 31

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein said first means comprises: (e) a fluid motor; (f) third means for filtering the fluid input to said fluid motor; and (g) fourth means for controlling the pressure of the fluid input to said fluid motor.

Claim 32

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during used of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in a slot on a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has an open recess therein, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having an enlargement thereon, said enlargement being sized and positioned to fit into the recess in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply moved in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 33

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during used of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in a slot on a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a syringe coupling attachment which has an open recess therein, said syringe coupling attachment being carried by said first means, and (ii) a shaft carried by said syringe and having an enlargement thereon, said enlargement being sized and positioned to fit into the recess in said syringe coupling attachment, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply moved in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 34

In a device as recited in claim 27, the further improvement wherein: said block is made out of a resilient material and the width of the slot therein is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 35

In a device as recited in claim 27, the further improvement wherein: (a) the slot in said block is open-topped, and (b) the recess in said syringe coupling attachment is upwardly open, whereby said syringe and said shaft may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block and said syringe coupling attachment, respectively.

Claim 36

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid tranlational movement in a slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a coupling attachment carried by one of said syringe and said first means, said coupling attachment having an open recess therein; and (ii) a shaft carried by the other of said syringe and said first means, said shaft having an enlargement thereon which is sized and positioned to fit into the recess in said coupling attachment, whereby said syringe may be simply moved in and out of place in said block.

Claim 37

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid tranlational movement in a slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; and (f) said syringe is connected to said first means by means comprising: (i) a coupling attachment carried by one of said syringe and said first means, said coupling attachment having an open recess therein; and (ii) a shaft carried by the other of said syringe and said first means, said shaft having an enlargement thereon which is sized and positioned to fit into the recess in said coupling attachment, whereby said syringe may be simply moved in and out of place in said block.

Claim 38

In a device as recited in claim 30, the further improvement wherein: said block is made out of a resilient material and the width of the slot therein is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 39

In a device as recited in claim 30, the further improvement wherein: (a) the slot in said block is open-topped, and (b) the recess in said coupling attachment is upwardly open, whereby said syringe may be simply lifted in and out of place in said block.

Claim 40

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) a first block on which said first means is carried, said first block having slots therein parallel to the direction of motion of said syringe; and (f) a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block, whereby the amount by which the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate when said syringe is in its second position can be adjusted.

Claim 41

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) a first block on which said first means is carried, said first block having slots therein parallel to the direction of motion of said syringe; and (f) a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block, whereby the amount by which the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate when said syringe is in its second position can be adjusted.

Claim 42

In a device as recited in claim 33, the further improvement comprising third means for adjusting the position of said syringe in the horizontal plane and in the direction perpendicular to its direction of motion.

Claim 43

A device as recited in claim 34, wherein said third means comprises: (a) a second block on which said first means is carried, said second block having slots therein perpendicular to the direction of motion of said syringe; and (b) a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said second block.

Claim 44

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) a first block on which said first means is carried, said first block having slots therein perpendicular to the direction of motion of said syringe; and (f) a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block, whereby the position of said syringe is the horizontal plane and in the direction perpendicular to its direction of motion can be adjusted.

Claim 45

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) a first block on which said first means is carried, said first block having slots therein perpendicular to the direction of motion of said syringe; and (f) a plurality of bolts which pass through the slots in said first slotted block, whereby the position of said syringe is the horizontal plane and in the direction perpendicular to its direction of motion can be adjusted.

Claim 46

In a device as recited in claim 36, the further improvement comprising third means for adjusting the amount by which the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate when said syringe is in its second position.

Claim 47

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; (f) said block is made out of a resilient material; and (g) the width of the open-topped slot in said block is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held against vertical motion by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 48

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement wherein: (e) said syringe is journaled for rapid translational movement in an open-topped slot in a block mounted on said opposite side of said work plate; (f) said block is made out of a resilient material; and (g) the width of the open-topped slot in said block is less than the width of said syringe, whereby said syringe is held against vertical motion by the resiliency of said block.

Claim 49

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) third means for counting the number of times said first means has been actuated and (f) fourth means for shutting off the device when said first means has been actuated a preset number of times.

Claim 50

In an automatic injection device comprising: (a) a work plate on which an animal to be injected can be positioned, said work plate having an aperture therein; (b) a syringe mounted on the opposite side of said work plate from the side on which the animal to be injected is positioned during use of the device; (c) first means for moving said syringe back and forth between a first position wherein said syringe is entirely withdrawn on said opposite side of said work plate and a second position wherein the needle of said syringe protrudes through the aperture in said work plate; and (d) second means for detecting the presence of an animal to be injected in position on said work plate and for activating said first means, the improvement comprising: (e) third means for counting the number of times said first means has been actuated and (f) fourth means for shutting off the device when said first means has been actuated a preset number of times.