Patents by Inventor Rolf Silbert
Rolf Silbert 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: 11090963Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Patent number: 11052690Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Patent number: 11046101Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Publication number: 20210132098Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to position the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf SILBERT, David OPALSKY, David Aaron BUSE, Robert J. ROSATI, Olev TAMMER, Richard CAPELLA, Matthias MERTEN
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Publication number: 20210061584Abstract: A sample receptacle transporting carrier includes a base defining a recess for receiving a bottom end of the sample receptacle. The carrier also includes a plurality of resilient wire fingers affixed to and extending upward from the annular support. The fingers are configured to retain the bottom end of the sample receptacle within the recess of the base and to maintain the sample receptacle in an upright orientation. Each of the wire fingers includes a first segment adjacent to the base, a linear second segment joined to the first segment by a first angled portion, and a linear third segment joined to the second linear segment by a second angled portion. The third segment of each finger is configured to contact the bottom end of the receptacle as the receptacle is inserted into the carrier. The third segment and the vertical axis of the carrier form an angle between about 40° and about 50°.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventor: Rolf SILBERT
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Patent number: 10921338Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and a drip tray movable between a first position not under the capping/decapping mechanism and a second position under the capping/decamping mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: Rolf Silbert, David Opalsky, David Aaron Buse, Robert J. Rosati, Olev Tammer, Richard Capella, Matthias Merten
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Patent number: 10877057Abstract: A sample container of patient sample material includes a sample container barcode containing patient-identifying information. The sample container barcode on the sample container is read, and a tubular reaction vessel is provided to a printer module configured to print a barcode directly onto a surface of the tubular reaction vessel. The printer module prints a barcode on the surface of the reaction vessel by a thermal printing method, and the barcode printed onto the reaction vessel is associated with the sample container barcode.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, David Aaron Buse, Robert J. Rosati, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten, Richard Capella, David Opalsky
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Publication number: 20200320262Abstract: A method for reading machine-readable labels on a plurality of sample receptacles held by a sample rack. The sample rack is moved between first and second positions within a housing and a label reader is activated at each of a plurality of predetermined position between the first and second positions to read the machine-readable label of each of the plurality of sample receptacles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Norbert D. HAGEN, David OPALSKY, Rolf SILBERT
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Patent number: 10719677Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, an absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between first and second positions in a housing. During movement between the first and second positions, an image is acquired of a machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle held by the sample rack. The image of each machine-readable label is thereafter decoded.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Norbert D. Hagen, David Opalsky, Rolf Silbert
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Publication number: 20200103430Abstract: A sample receptacle can be used for ordering assays to be performed by an automatic sample processing instrument. The sample receptacle can include a body defining a chamber for containing a sample and a label. The label can include discrete areas configured to be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. The label can also include assay-identifying indicia indicating the respective assay associated with a respective discrete area. A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having one or more assay order states can include automatically determining assay order states of the discrete areas and performing an assay on the sample, using the automatic sample processing instruments, based on the determined assay order states of the discrete areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2018Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventor: Rolf SILBERT
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Publication number: 20200094598Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf SILBERT, Robert J. ROSATI, David BUSE, Olev TAMMER, Matthias MERTEN
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Publication number: 20200094597Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf SILBERT, Robert J. ROSATI, David BUSE, Olev TAMMER, Matthias MERTEN
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Publication number: 20200094596Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Patent number: 10562329Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Patent number: 10488353Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus, systems, and methods for conducting rapid, accurate, and consistent heated amplifications and/or thermal melt analyses.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventors: David Opalsky, Norbert D. Hagen, Rolf Silbert, Sean S. Chiu, Haitao Li
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Patent number: 10464360Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten
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Publication number: 20190311166Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, an absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between first and second positions in a housing. During movement between the first and second positions, an image is acquired of a machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle held by the sample rack. The image of each machine-readable label is thereafter decoded.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Norbert D. HAGEN, David OPALSKY, Rolf SILBERT
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Patent number: D888944Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, HongRan Peng
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Patent number: D889642Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Gen-Probe IncorporatedInventors: Rolf Silbert, HongRan Peng
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Patent number: D928985Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATEDInventor: Rolf Silbert