Horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges
Inventors
Kim, Byeong Chul • Lee, Young Haeng • Chong, Kyong Hwa • Lee, Min Hwan • Park, Yu Jin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11613427-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges. The apparatus includes: a magazine (110) in which a plurality of reagent cartridges (1) is stacked; a conveyer belt (120) having a plurality of separating projections (121) arranged in a conveying direction to horizontally separately convey the reagent cartridges (1); a driving motor (130) for driving the conveyer belt (120); a feeding unit (140) for feeding the reagent cartridges (1) stacked in the magazine (110) onto the conveyer belt (120); an examining unit (150) disposed over the front end of the conveyer belt (120) to examine the reagent cartridges (1); and reagent cartridge aligning members (161, 162) disposed in the conveying line of the conveyer belt (120), opposite to the examining unit (150), to align the reagent cartridges (1) in position.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges. A magazine stacks a plurality of reagent cartridges, and a conveyer belt having separating projections arranged in a conveying direction conveys the reagent cartridges, with each reagent cartridge arranged on a surface of the conveyer belt between the separating projections. A guide rail disposed at a side of the conveyor belt prevents the reagent cartridges from being laterally dropped.
A fixing plate is disposed at a top of the conveyer belt, and a driving motor drives the conveyer belt. A feeding unit feeds the reagent cartridges stacked in the magazine onto the conveyer belt, and the feeding unit includes a cartridge loader configured to move the reagent cartridges onto the conveyer belt one at a time. An examining unit is disposed over a front end of the conveyer belt to examine the reagent cartridges.
An aligning member aligns the reagent cartridges in an examining position over the conveyor belt with respect to the examining unit. The aligning member comprises a first elastic member separately supporting a reagent cartridge with respect to the guide rail in a horizontal direction and a second elastic member separately supporting a top of the reagent cartridge with respect to the examining unit in a vertical direction. The second elastic member comprises a middle portion in contact with the top of the reagent cartridge and outer edges directly connected to the fixing plate for aligning the reagent cartridge.
Claims Coverage
The document explicitly provides one independent claim defining an apparatus with magazine-to-conveyor one-at-a-time feeding, an examining unit arrangement, and an elastic alignment mechanism comprising horizontal and vertical elastic members.
Elastic aligning of cartridges in an examining position
An aligning member aligns the reagent cartridges in an examining position over the conveyor belt with respect to the examining unit, with a first elastic member separately supporting a reagent cartridge with respect to the guide rail in a horizontal direction and a second elastic member separately supporting a top of the reagent cartridge with respect to the examining unit in a vertical direction.
Separating projections for conveyor belt cartridge conveyance
A conveyer belt having separating projections arranged in a conveying direction to convey the reagent cartridges, with each reagent cartridge arranged on a surface of the conveyer belt between the separating projections.
Magazine stacking with one-at-a-time cartridge loading to the conveyor belt
A feeding unit for feeding the reagent cartridges stacked in the magazine onto the conveyer belt, the feeding unit including a cartridge loader configured to move the reagent cartridges onto the conveyer belt one at a time.
Examining unit disposed over the conveyor belt front end
An examining unit disposed over a front end of the conveyer belt to examine the reagent cartridges.
Mechanical support using guide rail and top fixing plate
A guide rail disposed at a side of the conveyor belt to prevent the reagent cartridges from being laterally dropped, and a fixing plate disposed at a top of the conveyer belt, with the second elastic member having outer edges directly connected to the fixing plate for aligning the reagent cartridge.
The claim coverage focuses on conveying cartridges from a stacked magazine onto a conveyor belt one at a time using separating projections, examining cartridges at a conveyor belt front end, and aligning each cartridge using horizontally and vertically supporting elastic members connected between the guide rail and a fixing plate.
Stated Advantages
Convey many cartridges in a small space.
Simplify mechanics.
Improve examination accuracy by avoiding positional errors.
Documented Applications
POCT/immunoassays (described in the provided summary as horizontal-flow automatic reagent-cartridge conveying apparatus for POCT/immunoassays).
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