Transfer apparatus with operable jaws for a conveyor system

Claim 1

Apparatus for transferring a laboratory specimen carrier onto and off of a conveyor track, comprising: a conveyor track for transporting a specimen carrier, having a carrier transport surface thereon operable to move a specimen carrier in a first direction; a specimen carrier support surface adjacent said conveyor track; a pair of jaw members operably mounted on a forward end of a frame, and spaced apart from one another; means for operating said jaw members between a gripping position biased towards one another to grip a specimen carrier therebetween, and an open position spaced apart from one another so as to release a specimen carrier gripped therebetween; said frame operable between a first position with said jaw members oriented over said conveyor track to receive a specimen carrier, and a second position with said jaw members oriented over said support surface to place a specimen carrier thereon; and a bearing projecting forwardly from said frame, located between said jaw members, and spaced apart therefrom, for stopping a specimen carrier on said conveyor track at a location between said jaw members.