Patents by Inventor Cosmas G. Malin

Cosmas G. Malin 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).

  • Patent number: 11673142
    Abstract: A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks includes a low-temperature compartment having insulated side and bottom walls and at least one opening at a top side. The compartment is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus comprising a rack holder for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus comprising a gripper adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by the holder. The holder apparatus is adapted to displace the rack holder between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment above the opening and a lower rack position inside the compartment. The picker apparatus is adapted to displace the gripper between an upper gripper position outside the compartment above the opening and a lower gripper position inside the compartment below the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 10792662
    Abstract: An automated low-temperature storage for storing laboratory samples includes a storage zone for storing the samples that is maintainable at a first temperature below ?20° C.; a handling zone located above the storage zone that is maintainable at a second temperature above the first temperature and below 0° C.; a chamber laterally adjacent to the storage zone and the handling zone for storing the samples at a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature and below 0° C.; and a vertical wall separating the chamber from the handling zone and storage zone. A first opening arranged in said vertical wall connects the handling zone and the chamber; and an automated transport device is arranged at least partially in the handling zone and is configured to move the samples between the storage zone, the handling zone, and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 10124341
    Abstract: The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at low temperatures, e.g. at ?80° C. It comprises a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20180272353
    Abstract: A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks comprises a low-temperature compartment (1) having insulated side and bottom walls (2, 3) and at least one opening (6) at a top side. The compartment (1) is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus (8) comprising a rack holder (9) for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus (25) comprising a gripper (26) adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by said holder. The holder apparatus (8) is adapted to displace the rack holder (9) between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower rack position inside the compartment (1). Similarly, the picker apparatus (25) is adapted to displace the gripper (26) between an upper gripper position outside the compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower gripper position inside the compartment (1) below the opening (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20180252460
    Abstract: An automated low-temperature storage for storing laboratory samples includes a storage zone for storing the samples that is maintainable at a first temperature below ?20° C.; a handling zone located above the storage zone that is maintainable at a second temperature above the first temperature and below 0° C.; a chamber laterally adjacent to the storage zone and the handling zone for storing the samples at a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature and below 0° C.; and a vertical wall separating the chamber from the handling zone and storage zone. A first opening arranged in said vertical wall connects the handling zone and the chamber; and an automated transport device is arranged at least partially in the handling zone and is configured to move the samples between the storage zone, the handling zone, and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Patent number: 9995525
    Abstract: The storage comprises, from the bottom to the top, a low temperature storage zone, for storing the samples, a handling zone, housing at least part of an automatic transport device, and an access zone, where the user can enter for maintenance. A separating wall consisting of removable panels insulates the access zone, for the rooms below it. A peripheral housing, contains a peripheral chamber for temporarily storing the samples at slightly higher temperatures. A liquid nitrogen container, is used to feed dry gas to the storage zone and to maintain it under slight overpressure for preventing the entry of moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9784495
    Abstract: A storage arrangement (1) has a chamber (3). Several Dewar flasks (5) are arranged in the chamber (3) and above them a picking device (8). The picking device has at least one cassette lift (60), with which storage cassettes (20) can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks (5). This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects even at very low temperatures. Each storage cassette (20) is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal is bent such that it forms the side walls (30), the back wall (32), the top part (34) and the base part (38) of the storage cassette (20), as well as angles (40, 42) to accommodate the laboratory objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9709314
    Abstract: The storage device comprises a storage chamber for storing objects at e.g. ?80° C., a transfer chamber for intermediate object storage at e.g. ?20° C. and a transport device arranged between them. The transport device comprises a pivotal and vertically displaceable carriage and is arranged in a rotatable lock chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9506941
    Abstract: A rotating holder to invert Petri dishes by 180° and to loosen the bottom from the cover, which has two positions to accommodate Petri dishes. By inverting the rotating holder around a rotation axis, the Petri dishes are reversed and inverted in the two positions. Thus the bottom of the upper Petri dish will be lowered and be engaged by a gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20160082440
    Abstract: The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at low temperatures, e.g. at ?80° C. It comprises a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20160084564
    Abstract: The storage device comprises a storage chamber for storing objects at e.g. ?80° C., a transfer chamber for intermediate object storage at e.g. ?20° C. and a transport device arranged between them. The transport device comprises a pivotal and vertically displaceable carriage and is arranged in a rotatable lock chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Patent number: 9028752
    Abstract: A device for storing and handling Petri dishes having a base with a base wall arranged on a circumference of the base, and a lid. The device includes a storage device structured and arranged for storing the Petri dishes in an upside-down orientation so that respective lids are oriented below their respective bases, an inspection device structured and arranged for automatic inspection of the Petri dishes without their respective lids, and a transfer device structured and arranged for transferring the Petri dishes between the storage device and the inspection device. The transfer device includes a gripper, with which a respective Petri dish without the lid can be grasped laterally on the base wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9005542
    Abstract: The storage arrangement has a chamber. Several Dewar flasks are arranged in the chamber and above them a picking device. The picking device has at least one cassette lift, with which storage cassettes can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks. This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20140377038
    Abstract: A rotating holder is envisioned to invert Petri dishes by 180° and to loosen the bottom from the cover, which has two positions to accommodate Petri dishes. By inverting the rotating holder around a rotation axis, the Petri dishes are reversed and inverted in the two positions. Thus the bottom of the upper Petri dish will be lowered and be engaged by a gripper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20120251275
    Abstract: A device for storing and handling Petri dishes having a base with a base wall arranged on a circumference of the base, and a lid. The device includes a storage device structured and arranged for storing the Petri dishes in an upside-down orientation so that respective lids are oriented below their respective bases, an inspection device structured and arranged for automatic inspection of the Petri dishes without their respective lids, and a transfer device structured and arranged for transferring the Petri dishes between the storage device and the inspection device. The transfer device includes a gripper, with which a respective Petri dish without the lid can be grasped laterally on the base wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Patent number: 8192133
    Abstract: A climate-controlled cabinet that includes a climate-controlled chamber for receiving a storage system, a carrier arranged in said chamber, and at least one storage tower arranged in said chamber and mounted to the carrier. The storage tower includes a plurality of locations for objects to be stored. A transport device is included for automatically transporting objects between the storage tower and an external system, and a shaker for automatically shaking the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20120134898
    Abstract: The storage arrangement has a chamber. Several Dewar flasks are arranged in the chamber and above them a picking device. The picking device has at least one cassette lift, with which storage cassettes can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks. This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects at very low temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20120134897
    Abstract: A storage arrangement (1) has a chamber (3). Several Dewar flasks (5) are arranged in the chamber (3) and above them a picking device (8). The picking device has at least one cassette lift (60), with which storage cassettes (20) can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks (5). This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects even at very low temperatures. Each storage cassette (20) is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal is bent such that it forms the side walls (30), the back wall (32), the top part (34) and the base part (38) of the storage cassette (20), as well as angles (40, 42) to accommodate the laboratory objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Patent number: 8092743
    Abstract: A device for handling of laboratory samples includes at least one gripper movable from above over a sample. The gripper includes multiple fingers arranged around an axis, an elastic finger mount, and an actuator mechanism structured and arranged to move the fingers to selectively grip or release the sample. The multiple fingers are elastically held by the elastic finger mount in a radially displaceable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20100183408
    Abstract: The storage comprises, from the bottom to the top, a low temperature storage zone, for storing the samples, a handling zone, housing at least part of an automatic transport device, and an access zone, where the user can enter for maintenance. A separating wall consisting of removable panels insulates the access zone, for the rooms below it. A peripheral housing, contains a peripheral chamber for temporarily storing the samples at slightly higher temperatures. A liquid nitrogen container, is used to feed dry gas to the storage zone and to maintain it under slight overpressure for preventing the entry of moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN