Patents by Inventor Rick A. Spencer

Rick A. Spencer 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).

  • Hysteresis compensation system
    Patent number: 7534395
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating for hysteresis in laboratory liquid handling apparatus. The system comprises a carriage holding a drive gear that meshes with and drives a gear rack. A hysteresis brake is also provided on the carriage and opposes the movement of the drive gear to provide continued positive engagement of the drive gear with the gear rack even when the system is static. When the direction of travel of the gear rack is reversed, the drive gear rotates an additional distance that compensates for the aggregate hysteresis found in the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Briscoe, Rick Spencer, Jonn R. Hitch, Chad Buckles
  • Pipette tip box shucking method and apparatus
    Patent number: 7267801
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for loading tips onto a pipettor. A means for applying removal force on the pipette tip box is provided so as to ensure that the box is dislodged from the pipette tips after the pipette tips have been forced onto the dispense head mandrels. In the preferred embodiment, the shuck arms are modified to incorporate springs such that when the engagement force is removed from the pipette tip box, the shuck arms are forced by the springs against the pipette tip box thereby displacing the pipette tip box from the pipette tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonn Hitch, Rick A. Spencer
  • Hysteresis compensation system
    Publication number: 20050238544
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating for hysteresis in laboratory liquid handling apparatus. The system comprises a carriage holding a drive gear that meshes with and drives a gear rack. A hysteresis brake is also provided on the carriage and opposes the movement of the drive gear to provide continued positive engagement of the drive gear with the gear rack even when the system is static. When the direction of travel of the gear rack is reversed, the drive gear rotates an additional distance that compensates for the aggregate hysteresis found in the drive train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Briscoe, Rick Spencer, Jonn Hitch, Chad Buckles
  • Pipette tip box shucking method and apparatus
    Publication number: 20030017604
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for loading tips onto a pipettor. A means for applying removal force on the pipette tip box is provided so as to ensure that the box is dislodged from the pipette tips after the pipette tips have been forced onto the dispense head mandrels. In the preferred embodiment, the shuck arms are modified to incorporate springs such that when the engagement force is removed from the pipette tip box, the shuck arms are forced by the springs against the pipette tip box thereby displacing the pipette tip box from the pipette tips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonn Hitch, Rick A. Spencer