Patents by Inventor Rodney E. Haning

Rodney E. Haning 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).

  • Bulk vessel feeder
    Patent number: 6790412
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding to an automated analyzer a bulk quantity of vessels is provided. The bulk vessel feeding apparatus has a frame structure, a vessel hopper and an elevator chain supported by the frame structure. The elevator chain is driven by a drive sprocket and carries a plurality of scoopers for transporting the vessels from the hopper to a sorting and orienting mechanism. The sorting and orienting mechanism has two actuated rams for ejecting the vessels from the scoopers into a guide, while sorting and orienting the vessels, such that they are all headed by their closed ends when traveling in the guide. The guide leads to an escape mechanism for dispensing the vessels one at a time to the analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Armer J. Willenbring, Rodney E. Haning, Jon P. Lindquist
  • Bulk vessel feeder
    Publication number: 20020106305
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding to an automated analyzer a bulk quantity of vessels is provided. The bulk vessel feeding apparatus has a frame structure, a vessel hopper and an elevator chain supported by the frame structure. The elevator chain is driven by a drive sprocket and carries a plurality of scoopers for transporting the vessels from the hopper to a sorting and orienting mechanism. The sorting and orienting mechanism has two actuated rams for ejecting the vessels from the scoopers into a guide, while sorting and orienting the vessels, such that they are all headed by their closed ends when traveling in the guide. The guide leads to an escape mechanism for dispensing the vessels one at a time to the analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Armer J. Willenbring, Rodney E. Haning, Jon P. Lindquist