Patents by Inventor JoAnne T. Gerst

JoAnne T. Gerst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Test sample holder device for test sample positioning system
    Patent number: 5897835
    Abstract: A positioning system for a sample testing machine incudes a base pan and a set of independent drive systems for sliding a sample tray across the base pan. Each of the drive systems incudes a paddle that engages a side of the sample tray. The paddle is slideably mounted to a shaft with a collar that slides over the shaft. A motor and drive belt is provided to move the collar along the shaft, causing the paddle to engage the side of the sample tray and slide the sample tray across the base pan. Track sections are provided in the base pan to prevent the sample tray from rotating as the paddle slides the sample tray across the base pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Seaton, Mark Joseph Fanning, JoAnne T. Gerst
  • Test sample positioning system
    Patent number: 5853667
    Abstract: A positioning system for a sample testing machine incudes a base pan and a set of independent drive systems for sliding a sample tray across the base pan. Each of the drive systems incudes a paddle that engages a side of the sample tray. The paddle is slideably mounted to a shaft with a collar that slides over the shaft. A motor and drive belt is provided to move the collar along the shaft, causing the paddle to engage the side of the sample tray and slide the sample tray across the base pan. Track sections are provided in the base pan to prevent the sample tray from rotating as the paddle slides the sample tray across the base pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Seaton, Mark Joseph Fanning, Craig Drager, Ron Robinson, Roger James Morris, Jean-Pierre Bernard Gayral, JoAnne T. Gerst
  • Drive system for test sample positioning system
    Patent number: 5762874
    Abstract: A positioning system for a sample testing machine includes a base pan and a set of independent drive systems for sliding a sample tray across the base pan. Each of the drive systems includes a paddle that engages a side of the sample tray. The paddle is slideably mounted to a shaft with a collar that slides over the shaft. A motor and drive belt is provided to move the collar along the shaft, causing the paddle to engage the side of the sample tray and slide the sample tray across the base pan. Track sections are provided in the base pan to prevent the sample tray from rotating as the paddle slides the sample tray across the base pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Seaton, Mark Joseph Fanning, Craig Drager, Ron Robinson, Roger James Morris, Jean-Pierre Bernard Gayral, JoAnne T. Gerst
  • Test sample positioning system
    Patent number: 5736102
    Abstract: A positioning system for a sample testing machine includes a base pan and a set of independent drive systems for sliding a sample tray across the base pan. Each of the drive systems includes a paddle that engages a side of the sample tray. The paddle is slideably mounted to a shaft with a collar that slides over the shaft. A motor and drive belt is provided to move the collar along the shaft, causing the paddle to engage the side of the sample tray and slide the sample tray across the base pan. Track sections are provided in the base pan to prevent the sample tray from rotating as the paddle slides the sample tray across the base pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ernest Seaton, Mark Joseph Fanning, Craig Drager, Ron Robinson, Roger James Morris, Jean-Pierre Bernard Gayral, JoAnne T. Gerst