Test tube orienting system

Details Test tube orienting system Test tube orienting system

1999-11-10

2001-12-04

Crispino, Richard (Department: 1734)

Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture

Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor

With work feeding or handling means

C198S397010, C198S398000, C221S160000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325129

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a test tube orienting system. In particular, the present invention to relates to an apparatus for extracting randomly-oriented test tubes from a hopper with a consistent orientation in preparation for automated processing, including packaging and automated biological specimen testing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To reduce the cost of testing biological specimens, automated biological specimen testing systems have been developed whereby test tubes containing biological fluid are conveyed in assembly-line fashion to one or more automated testing stations. Bar codes labels are affixed to each test tube to indicate to the testing station the desired test to be performed. Each test may involve the separation of the biological fluid into multiple portions. Therefore, it is desirable for empty secondary test tubes to be available for insertion into the assembly line on demand behind each specimen.
Randomly-oriented test tubes can be purchased in bulk and stored in a test tube hopper for use as the secondary test tubes. However, randomly-oriented test tubes are not desirable for use in assembly line biologic specimen testing since the test tubes must be properly oriented by hand prior to labeling and insertion into the assembly line. For this reason, medical testing laboratories generally purchase packages of pre-oriented bulk test tubes for use as the secondary test tubes. Still, pre-oriented test tubes are expensive since the test tubes must be pre-oriented and packaged by hand before being shipped to the laboratory. Therefore, there is a need for a system which automatically extracts randomly-oriented test tubes from a test tube hopper and orients the test tubes prior to packaging or specimen testing.
Vibratory bowls are well known mechanisms capable of orienting small parts from a vessel containing randomly-oriented parts. Vibratory bowls include a small open-mouthed bowl for retaining the randomly-oriented parts, and a discharge channel provided adjacent the mouth. The vibratory bowl generally has a saw-tooth vibratory waveform which serves to urge the parts from the bowl and along the discharge channel with a consistent orientation. However, vibratory bowls are very expensive. Furthermore, as the radius of the bowl must increase according to the size of the parts to be oriented, the cost of a vibratory bowl having a size sufficient for orienting test tubes would be prohibitive. Accordingly, there remains a need for a cost-effective solution for extracting randomly-oriented test tubes from a hopper with a consistent orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for providing consistently-oriented test tubes from a test tube hopper containing randomly-oriented test tubes. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system for extracting randomly-oriented test tubes from a test tube hopper with consistent orientation prior to labeling and insertion into an automated biological specimen testing system.
In accordance with these objects, there is provided a test tube orienting system comprising a vessel for receiving a plurality of test tubes, and a test tube transport system for directing the test tubes out of the vessel. The vessel includes an open mouth, an internal cavity communicating with the mouth, and a side wall enclosing the cavity. The side wall includes a downwardly inwards sloping channel extending along the side wall from the mouth and dimensioned for receiving the test tubes therein. The transport system directs the test tubes axially upwards along the channel, and includes a plurality of tube supports extending through the channel into the cavity. Drive means are coupled to the tube supports for directing the tube supports upwards along the channel while progressively retracting the tube supports from the cavity.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprises a prime mover and an endless chain driven by the prime mover, and the tube supports comprise equidistantly-spaced elongate pins of equal length affixed to the endless chain. While the chain is being driven, the pins move upwards through the channel, thereby driving test tubes axially upwards against the side wall and along the channel. The chain lies in a plane which makes an acute angle with the side wall so that as the pins approach the mouth of the vessel, the pins are progressively retracted from the cavity. Since test tubes have a rounded closed end, those test tubes which are oriented with their closed end down will fall away from their respective pin as the pin retracts. However, since the diameter of the test tube adjacent the open end is greater than at the closed end, those test tubes which are oriented with their open end down will remain in contact with the pin over the length of the cavity. As a result, all the test tubes which are ejected from the vessel mouth will have the same orientation.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2891697 (1959-06-01), Beckers
patent: 3882994 (1975-05-01), Mecks et al.
patent: 4223778 (1980-09-01), Kontz
patent: 4244459 (1981-01-01), Garrett
patent: 4352424 (1982-10-01), Ichizawa et al.

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