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US4530304A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Magnetic lifting device for a cellular sample treatment apparatus

Assignee: Biomatics Inc
•
Filing: 1984-03-08
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Granted: 1985-07-23
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Expires: 2004-03-08
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Abstract

Abstract A magnetic lifting device for lifting a stack of specimen holders out of one tube and lowering them into another tube is disclosed. The device avoids the necessity of manual handling of the stack. In the device there are a number of stack holding tubes, each one open at the top, positioned in a circle about a vertical axis of a rotatable carousel. An indexing system rotates the carousel to selectively place one of the stack holding tubes in a treatment position. The improvement comprises a magnetizable member attached to the top of the stack of sample holders, a transfer tube having a bottom opening positioned to mate on top of the stack holding tube to hold the magnetizable member in a magnetic field, a device to raise and lower the magnetic coil about the transfer tube to raise and lower the magnetic coil about the transfer tube to raise the stack into the transfer tube allowing the carousel to be rotated, and lower the stack into another stack holding tube.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ivan Gardos

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/30; G01N1/31; B; B05; B05C; B05C13/00; B05C13/02; B05C3/00; B05C3/02; B05C3/04; B05C3/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
In an apparatus for treating samples of cellular materials wherein the samples are contained in a plurality of sample holders joined together to form a stack, the apparatus including a plurality of stack holding tubes, each one open at the top, positioned in a circle about a vertical axis of a rotatable carousel, drive means for rotating the carousel to selectively place one of the stack holding tubes in a treatment position, the improvement comprising a magnetizable member attached to the top of the stack of sample holders, a transfer tube having a bottom opening positioned to mate on top of the stack holding tube in the treatment position, a magnetic coil about the transfer tube to hold the magnetizable member in a magnetic field, means to raise and lower the magnetic coil about the transfer tube to raise the stack into the transfer tube allowing the carousel to be rotated, and lower the stack into another stack holding tube
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
In an apparatus for treating samples of cellular materials wherein the samples are contained in a plurality of sample holders joined together to form a stack, the apparatus including a plurality of stack holding tubes, each one open at the top, positioned in a circle about a vertical axis of a rotatable carousel, drive means for rotating the carousel to selectively place one of the stack holding tubes in a treatment position, the improvement comprising a magnetizable member attached to the top of the stack of sample holders, a transfer tube having a bottom opening positioned to mate on top of the stack holding tube in the treatment position, a magnetic coil about the transfer tube to hold the magnetizable member in a magnetic field, means to raise and lower the magnetic coil about the transfer tube to raise the stack into the transfer tube allowing the carousel to be rotated, and lower the stack into another stack holding tube
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a second magnetic coil adjacent to the magnetic coil about the transfer tube, means to pulse electrical power to one of the magnetic coils such that a vibratory effect is transferred to the stack
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a top magnetic coil located at the top of the transfer tube to hold the stack in the top position in the top tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to raise and lower the magnetic coil about the transfer tube raises the transfer tube from the stack holding tube in the treatment position on the carousel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including linear movement means for moving the carousel into at least three positions representing a rotating position, a cap removal position and the treatment position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 including a drip tray positioned under the transfer tube, the drip tray mounted on a spring loaded arm adapted to allow the drip tray to move aside when the carousel is moved linearly to the treatment position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including a heating and cooling means positioned to heat and cool the stack holding tube in the treatment position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CA764897A Cited
CA847306A Cited
US2837055A Cited
US3302607A Cited
US3356096A Cited
US3479196A Cited
US3809008A Cited
US3880014A Cited
US4103722A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-07-22 1989-01-21 1989-07-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-07-22 1993-01-21 1993-07-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-07-22 1997-01-21 1997-07-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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