Patents by Inventor Stefan Rückl

Stefan Rückl 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: 10358277
    Abstract: A storage system for storing material such as sample tube caps comprises a drawer with a reservoir, the drawer being movable between a first position and a second position. A storage container is arranged below the reservoir of the drawer when the drawer is arranged in the first position. A transport device is configured to retrieve material from the storage container and to transport the material out of the storage container. Therein, the reservoir of the drawer comprises a bottom with at least one closable opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Otts, Stefan Rückl
  • Publication number: 20170217663
    Abstract: A storage system for storing material such as sample tube caps comprises a drawer with a reservoir, the drawer being movable between a first position and a second position. A storage container is arranged below the reservoir of the drawer when the drawer is arranged in the first position. A transport device is configured to retrieve material from the storage container and to transport the material out of the storage container. Therein, the reservoir of the drawer comprises a bottom with at least one closable opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen Otts, Stefan Rückl
  • Publication number: 20150298321
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system may include any suitable combination of a sensing gripper unit, a gripper unit with removable gripper fingers, an element or chute arrangement for separating gripper fingers from an object being gripped, and a detection system for detecting the level of objects in a container such as a waste container. The system may be used in a laboratory environment where objects such as specimen containers, caps, and tubes are manipulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Gross, Edward A. Murashie, Santiago Allen, Allan Trochman, Stefan Rueckl, Stephan L. Otts, Martin Mueller, Sophia Lauterbach, Lukas Bearden, Andreas Donner-Rehm
  • Publication number: 20140100694
    Abstract: A camera-based auto-alignment process can include gripping a first calibration tool by a gripper unit of a robotic arm. Images of the first calibration tool can be captured by a camera coupled to the gripper unit. The gripper unit and camera unit can be aligned on two roughly parallel axes. The images can be analyzed to calibrate the axis of view of the camera with the gripper axis, providing an XY calibration of the robotic arm. The gripper unit can be calibrated on a Z-axis using optical calibration with landmarks provided on a second calibration tool, and/or by moving the gripper unit towards the work surface until it makes contact with the work surface and stops. Once calibrated, the camera can be used to identify one or more landmarks at known locations on the work surface to align the robotic arm with the work surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Rueckl, Sebastian Streibl, Manuel Sickert
  • Publication number: 20140036276
    Abstract: Systems and methods for system for gripping a specimen container are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of gripper fingers, a processor, and a system for gathering data related to a specimen container. Data related to a specimen container, such as detection of the presence of a specimen container within the gripper, measurement of specimen container dimensions and weight, detection of specimen container contents, specimen tube identification, etc. are gathered. Embodiments provide an improved automated process by simultaneously performing multiple measurements and analytical processes on the specimen container, thereby providing for faster processing of the sample that resides in the specimen container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Gross, Edward A. Murashie, Santiago Allen, Allan Trochman, Stefan Rückl, Stephan L. Otts