Patents by Inventor Inna M. Zevakina
Inna M. Zevakina 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).
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Patent number: 7380654Abstract: A conveyor track drive includes a continuous loop conveyor for supporting and carrying a specimen container, with one portion of the conveyor extending through a drive housing. The conveyor includes a first segment extending through the housing, which then wraps around a portion of a drive sprocket, extends back upstream and around a portion of an idler sprocket and then includes a second segment transversely adjacent the first segment. A guide plate on the housing is positioned over the adjacent segments of the conveyor with a slot located to guide a specimen carrier from the first segment to the second segment. The specimen carrier then exits the housing on the second segment of the conveyor. A motor in the housing drives the drive sprocket to move the conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas Barry, Adrian Chan, Greg Rothman, Don R. Simms, Inna M. Zevakina
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Patent number: 7233838Abstract: A transfer and positioning apparatus includes a positioning assembly located between the tracks of a dual lane conveyor and upstream of a lane changer. The positioning assembly includes a retractable shaft for stopping a carrier along a first conveyor adjacent the assembly. A pair of gripper arms are pivotally mounted to move between an open position permitting the carrier to pass along the conveyor track, and a closed position with forward ends in contact with a specimen container on the carrier to position the container in a reference location for direct processing. The lane changer includes a shuttle depending from an overhead support with a pair of arms for receiving and shifting a specimen carrier from one conveyor to a second conveyor of a dual-conveyor track. The shuttle is operable to retain a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor and to release a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas Barry, Thomas L. Bybee, Adrian Chan, John Fuller, Ray Puseman, Greg Rothman, Don R. Simms, Michael Turner, Jay Woods, Inna M. Zevakina
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Patent number: 6999847Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a shuttle depending from an overhead support with a pair of arms for receiving and shifting a specimen carrier from one conveyor to a second conveyor of a dual-conveyor track. The shuttle is operable to retain a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor and to release a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor. Sensors are located to detect the presence of a specimen carrier at each of the retention locations, and to confirm the release of a specimen carrier from the shuttle along each of the conveyors. A drive motor for moving the shuttle between the retention and release positions is electrically connected to a command module with a processor, for receiving instructions as to the position of the shuttle. The sensors are also connected to the processor to transmit detection data to the processor. A queue is positioned upstream of the shuttle and is electrically connected to the processor.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: UNeLab LLCInventors: Douglas Barry, Thomas L. Bybee, Adrian Chan, John Fuller, Ray Puseman, Greg Rothman, Don R. Simms, Michael Turner, Jay Woods, Inna M. Zevakina
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Patent number: 6896120Abstract: The passive transfer guide of the present invention is positioned in a section of tangency between a first continuous loop conveyor and a second continuous loop conveyor, with a first guide lane for directing a specimen carrier from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and a second guide lane for directing a specimen carrier from the second conveyor to the first conveyor. The guide includes a horizontally oriented “H”-shaped central member having a pair of upper legs, a pair of lower legs, and a cross-member connecting the upper and lower legs. The upper legs and an upper portion of the cross-member form one specimen carrier-directing lane, and the lower legs and a lower portion of the cross-member form the second carrier-directing lane.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of NebraskaInventors: Douglas Barry, Don R. Simms, Inna M. Zevakina
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Publication number: 20040163931Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a shuttle depending from an overhead support with a pair of arms for receiving and shifting a specimen carrier from one conveyor to a second conveyor of a dual-conveyor track. The shuttle is operable to retain a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor and to release a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor. Sensors are located to detect the presence of a specimen carrier at each of the retention locations, and to confirm the release of a specimen carrier from the shuttle along each of the conveyors. A drive motor for moving the shuttle between the retention and release positions is electrically connected to a command module with a processor, for receiving instructions as to the position of the shuttle. The sensors are also connected to the processor to transmit detection data to the processor. A queue is positioned upstream of the shuttle and is electrically connected to the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventors: Douglas Barry, Thomas L. Bybee, Adrian Chan, John Fuller, Ray Puseman, Greg Rothman, Don R. Simms, Michael Turner, Jay Woods, Inna M. Zevakina, Dave Murphy, Sheri Kime, Steve Wright
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Publication number: 20040096362Abstract: A transfer and positioning apparatus includes a positioning assembly located between the tracks of a dual lane conveyor and upstream of a lane changer. The positioning assembly includes a retractable shaft for stopping a carrier along a first conveyor adjacent the assembly. A pair of gripper arms are pivotally mounted to move between an open position permitting the carrier to pass along the conveyor track, and a closed position with forward ends in contact with the a specimen container on the carrier to position the container in a reference location for direct processing. The lane changer includes a shuttle depending from an overhead support with a pair of arms for receiving and shifting a specimen carrier from one conveyor to a second conveyor of a dual-conveyor track. The shuttle is operable to retain a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor and to release a specimen carrier along either the first or second conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Douglas Barry, Thomas L. Bybee, Adrian Chan, John Fuller, Ray Puseman, Greg Rothman, Don R. Simms, Michael Turner, Jay Woods, Inna M. Zevakina
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Patent number: 6177050Abstract: A container positioning device includes a stop mechanism for stopping a carrier moving along a conveyor, the carrier supporting a container thereon. A pair of arms are pivotally mounted to move between an open position permitting the container to pass along the conveyor track, and a centering position with forward ends in contact with the container and positioning the container in a centering location. A forward end of the downstream arm is operable to move upstream and contact the container to move the container upstream to the centering location, where the second arm will contact the container to retain it in place.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: LAB-Interlink, Inc.Inventors: Thomas L. Bybee, Inna M. Zevakina