Patents by Inventor Larry J. DaPrato

Larry J. DaPrato 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5847291
    Abstract: An air sampler includes a stand adapted to support sample enclosures at spaced-apart locations. A multiposition valve is mounted to the stand. The multiposition valve has a plurality of inlet ports and an outlet port selectively fluidly coupled to any of the plurality of inlet ports. A plurality of inlet lines connects the sample enclosures to the inlet ports. A concentrator trap mounted on the stand and coupled to the outlet port concentrates selected constituents from one of the sample enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Tekmar Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Green, Larry J. DaPrato, Michael A. Hill, Valerie J. Naughton, Edmund T. Lewis, Todd A. Wolsing, Joseph A. Borer
  • Patent number: 5689073
    Abstract: A fluid handling analytical instrument includes a controlled device and a controller operably coupled to the controlled device to selectively control the controlled device with a control signal. A sensing device is operably coupled to the controller to sense the control signal and provide a signal indicative of a status of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Tekmar Company
    Inventors: Larry J. DaPrato, Michael A. Hill