Abstract: An end point spring separator is positioned adjacent a dispensing area of a pneumatic tube having a plurality of coil springs in serial order therethrough. The separator rotates a downstream positioned coil spring while holding stationary an adjacent upstream positioned coil spring to separate potentially entangled ends of each spring passing thereby.

Abstract: An end point spring separator is positioned adjacent a dispensing area of a pneumatic tube having a plurality of coil springs in serial order therethrough. The separator rotates a downstream positioned coil spring while holding stationary an adjacent upstream positioned coil spring to separate potentially entangled ends of each spring passing thereby.

Abstract: An automated spring detangler takes clumps of springs and whirls them around a rotating chamber. When they separate and fall to the bottom of the container, they are sucked into a delivery tube that continuously individually deposits them at an assembly line which may be remote from the detangler. Any non-separating clumps of springs are periodically ejected from the container.

Abstract: A wrench for use in connection with a lock nut including outwardly extending protrusions. The wrench includes a base portion and a finger and an engagement tab extending from the base portion. The finger is spaced from the engagement portion with a recess provided between the finger and the engagement portion. To rotate the nut, the finger is positioned over the top surface of the nut. The engagement tab is angled downwardly relative to the finger to engage the outwardly extending protrusions of the nut.

Abstract: An article handling system and method for holding articles and moving selected articles individually from and/or to the article handling system. A plurality of vertically spaced article holding trays are mounted for independent rotation, each tray having a plurality of discrete article holding locations. A tray rotating mechanism is arranged to rotate a single selected tray, while a pick-and-place mechanism has an article gripper mounted for vertical and horizontal movement such that the gripper can reach any article holding location on any selected tray. A controller coordinates rotation of the selected tray and movement of the gripper such that the gripper can move to and from the selected article holding location. The handling system is especially useful as part of an automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid in separate vials.

Abstract: A wrench for use in connection with a lock nut including outwardly extending protrusions. The wrench includes a base portion and a finger and an engagement tab extending from the base portion. The finger is spaced from the engagement portion with a recess provided between the finger and the engagement portion. To rotate the nut, the finger is positioned over the top surface of the nut. The engagement tab is angled downwardly relative to the finger to engage the outwardly extending protrusions of the nut.

Abstract: An article handling system and method for holding articles and moving selected articles individually from and/or to the article handling system. A plurality of vertically spaced article holding trays are mounted for independent rotation, each tray having a plurality of discrete article holding locations. A tray rotating mechanism is arranged to rotate a single selected tray, while a pick-and-place mechanism has an article gripper mounted for vertical and horizontal movement such that the gripper can reach any article holding location on any selected tray. A controller coordinates rotation of the selected tray and movement of the gripper such that the gripper can move to and from the selected article holding location. The handling system is especially useful as part of an automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid in separate vials.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying seals made of thin material to the open tops of containers, e.g., specimen containers for holding biological fluid that are processed automatically. A measured length of sealing material is advanced across and pressed against the top of the container to effect a seal. Depending on the type of sealing material used, sealing may be accomplished by application of pressure alone, by application of heat and pressure, or by application of ultrasonic energy and pressure. Excess sealing material optionally may be folded against the container sides by means of a folding member adapted to surround a container when the sealing head is lowered. Motor-driven rollers advance the sealing material, while a platen on a movably mounted sealing head presses the sealing material into engagement with the container.

Abstract: A microscope slide cassette for use with specimen handling apparatus. A plurality of opposed pairs of shelves carried by the side walls of the cassette are adapted to support specimen slides by their ends in the cassette. The shelves have a top surface on which a specimen slide can rest, and a resilient bottom surface configured to pinch the slide below against the shelf below to frictionally retain the pinched slide in the cassette. The bottom surface may comprise a spring. An inclined shelf lead-in ramp guides slides during insertion. Drainage ports in the side walls above and/or below the shelves make the cassette well suited for use in staining baths. Two laterally spaced racks on the rear wall, vertically spaced indexing marks corresponding to each slide position, and a sensor window at each slide position make the cassette well-suited for use in automated slide cassette handling mechanisms. The cassette is stackable with others for compact storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting a cell sample of desired concentration on a filter collection site from a biological liquid specimen in a container. Specimen liquid is moved through a filter while the volume rate of liquid flow through the filter is monitored. The monitored liquid flow rate is compared to a reference value, and liquid flow through the filter is terminated when the ratio of monitored liquid flow rate to the reference value reaches or exceeds a predetermined ratio value. The predetermined ratio value preferably is a function of the protocol for processing the specimen. An alternative method and apparatus relies on the rate of change of the measured weight of the container. This rate is compared to a reference value, and liquid flow through the filter is terminated when the rate of change diminishes to or below a predetermined value.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing articles, one at a time, from the bottom of a stack of like articles. The articles are yieldably supported in at least one upright stack above an outlet, e.g., a resilient choke, sized to pass the articles if forced therethrough. Articles are dispensed by pressing downwardly on the stack with sufficient force and for sufficient duration to overcome the yieldable supporting force and move the lowest article through the outlet. Sensors may be provided for sensing when an article is dispensed, when the tube is empty, and the type of article in the holder. The method and apparatus are especially useful in a vial-based automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid, wherein a filter assembly must be dispensed into a filtration chamber associated with each specimen vial.

Abstract: A device for conveying articles along a path defined by a track, said device having a conveyor for moving the articles along the track in a stop arrangement for interrupting the movement of the articles along the track to create an accumulation of the articles in a batch adjacent the stop arrangement characterized by the conveying arrangement comprising a belt having tines extending from one side, said continuous belt being positioned with only the tines extending into the path for engaging the articles to move them along the track and with the tines slipping past those articles, whose movement has been interrupted by the stop arrangement.

Abstract: A device for conveying a plurality of parts in a desired orientation in a single line as they are received from an aligning device to an exit position where they are picked up by a transfer device for further assembly or handling. The device uses a pair of belts, which are spaced apart, for conveying the part in the line to a stop at the exit position and has an escapement arrangement for holding the line of parts away from the part at the exit position and allowing a single part to advance to the exit position after a part at the exit position has been removed therefrom. The device includes adjusting the amount of contact between each of the belts and the edges of the parts to limit the amount of force being applied to the parts during transfer to prevent distortion of flexible parts and/or prevent the parts from riding up over each other adjacent the escapement arrangement.

Abstract: A mechanical dispensing device, suitable for dispensing miniature elements, comprises a cyclically driven finger element having a cam follower member which rides over a cam surface to produce a generally rectangular motion path for the finger during each cycle of dispensing operation. The finger is positioned across a feed flow line in which a series of individual elements to be dispensed are stacked from a spring biased latch member which serves as a stopping point for the leading element in the feed line. During dispensing operation, the finger engages a suitable notch space occurring in the stacked elements and draws the leading element through the latch point. The finger then withdraws from engagement with the element, enabling the element to freely drop by gravity through a suitable guide tube into an associated receptacle to be filled. The finger is then returned to an initial position for the dispensing process to repeat.