Patents by Inventor Greg J. Herman

Greg J. Herman 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).

  • Vial autosampler with vial stabilization member
    Patent number: 6544799
    Abstract: A modular vial autosampler has a storage area for vials containing samples to be analyzed and at least one modular sampling station. A vial transfer mechanism includes an arm having a gripper that lifts a sample vial from the storage section, and the arm moves it to a station for identification and then to a sampling station, and under central control activates the sampling station for obtaining a sample for analysis. The vial transfer mechanism gripper is movable in X, Y, and Z directions to capture and move a selected vial and includes an alignment guide for the vials. Potentiometers are used for providing signals indicating arm position and the control is provided with updated information for calibration of the potentiometers and also updated position information for the arm relative to a fixed home position is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Tekmar Company
    Inventors: Edmund T. Lewis, Thomas B. Green, Harry W. Schmidt, Larry J. DaPrato, Greg J. Herman, Michael A. Hill
  • Method of calibrating a vial autosampler
    Patent number: 6426225
    Abstract: A modular vial autosampler has a storage area for vials containing samples to be analyzed and at least one modular sampling station. A vial transfer mechanism includes an arm having a gripper that lifts a sample vial from the storage section, and the arm moves it to a station for identification and then to a sampling station, and under central control activates the sampling station for obtaining a sample for analysis. The vial transfer mechanism gripper is movable in X, Y, and Z directions to capture and move a selected vial and includes an alignment guide for the vials. Potentiometers are used for providing signals indicating arm position and the control is provided with updated information for calibration of the potentiometers and also updated position information for the arm relative to a fixed home position is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Tekmar Company
    Inventors: Edmund T. Lewis, Thomas B. Green, Harry W. Schmidt, Larry J. DaPrato, Greg J. Herman, Michael A. Hill
  • Autosampler with robot arm
    Patent number: 5948360
    Abstract: A modular vial autosampler has a storage area for vials containing samples to be analyzed and at least one modular sampling station. A vial transfer mechanism includes an arm having a gripper that lifts a sample vial from the storage section, and the arm moves it to a station for identification and then to a sampling station, and under central control activates the sampling station for obtaining a sample for analysis. The vial transfer mechanism gripper is movable in X, Y, and Z directions to capture and move a selected vial and includes an alignment guide for the vials. Potentiometers are used for providing signals indicating arm position and the control is provided with updated information for calibration of the potentiometers and also updated position information for the arm relative to a fixed home position is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tekmar Company
    Inventors: Prabhakar P. Rao, Thomas B. Green, Harry W. Schmidt, Larry J. DaPrato, Greg J. Herman, Michael A. Hill