Abstract: The invention provides an automated workstation capable of continuous, non-stop processing of specimens. The workstation includes a storage area that holds multiple cassettes containing specimens compounds or other materials to be analyzed or used in conjunction therewith (collectively, “specimens”) which, preferably, are maintained on slides, microliter plates, or the like (collectively, “plates”). The workstation also includes a robotic arm for processing the specimens, e.g., by grasping the plates, moving them from the cassettes to other apparatus contained within the workstation, and placing the plates back in the cassettes. The invention also provides methods and apparatus for acquiring and processing samples in narrow, thin-walled pipettes without transferring them to wells, vials, or other reaction vessels.

Abstract: An automated workstation capable of continuous, non-stop processing of specimens includes an environmentally controlled storage area that holds multiple cassettes containing specimen plates. A robotic arm for processing the specimens, e.g., by grasping the plates, moving them from the cassettes to other apparatus contained within the workstation, and placing the plates back in the cassettes. An interlock mechanism prevents the operator and robotic arm from simultaneously accessing a cassette. Novel robotic arms, robotic arm positioning mechanisms, plate handling mechanisms, effector tip/plate washing mechanisms, thin-walled pipetters, back-flushing mechanisms and fluid level detection mechanisms, as well as methods for operating the same, facilitate continuous operation of the workstation along with compactness, high throughput and high accuracy of operation. Narrow, thin-walled capillary-like pipetters serve as both means for acquiring and processing small quantity specimens with high precision.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically inserting a cable into a protective jacket. A longitudinal cut is made in the protective jacket and the cable is inserted into the longitudinal cut. The cable and jacket are transported through the apparatus along an arcuate guide path formed by a friction wheel.

Abstract: A method of forming and inserting filter elements into cup-shaped containers comprises the steps of: a) folding a continuous web of filter material into two adjacent plies which have separable upper edges and are joined one to the other along a bottom fold line; b) blanking the adjacent plies to form their upper edges into a scalloped pattern; c) inserting carrier mandrels between the adjacent plies; d) joining the adjacent plies along seams extending transversely with respect to the bottom fold line to form a series of collapsed frustoconical filter elements interconnected by scrap segments and supported internally by the carrier mandrels; e) separating the filter elements one from the other by blanking and removing the scrap segments; f) transferring the filter elements from the carrier mandrels into cup-shaped containers arranged therebeneath; and g) securing the thus inserted filter elements to interior surfaces of the cup-shaped containers.

Abstract: The vehicle safety seat supports an occupant and includes structure interconnecting the seat and the vehicle. The interconnecting structure is adapted to constrain the seat, upon vehicle deceleration, to follow a trajectory with respect to the vehicle which substantially minimizes a cost function associated with occupant injury. In a preferred embodiment, the structure constrains the mass center and seat angle to follow trajectories which substantially minimize primarily forward motion of the occupant in the vehicle frame of reference.

Abstract: An apparatus for the spatial orientation of a spherical object comprising a camera for gathering an image of the spherical object and its spatial orientation, a computer communicating with the camera for processing the image and for computing a required spatial rotation to bring the spherical object into a desired spatial orientation, and motors communicating with the computer for rotating the spherical object to a desired orientation without substantially moving the center of the spherical object.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus is for use with a visual sensory apparatus, for projecting a light pattern onto a surface to be viewed by the sensory apparatus. The illuminating apparatus comprises: a light source; a patterniser for constraining light emitted from the source to produce on the surface, a light pattern having a light interface, the interface having an extended dimension. The light pattern is caused to move relative to the surface, parallel to the extended dimension of the light interface. The pattern may comprise a plurality of extended straight line interfaces, each interface being parallel to the other interfaces of the plurality. Rather than straight, the plurality may be circular and concentric. Rather than a plurality, the pattern may comprise a single straight line or circular light interface.

Abstract: A batch thermal cycler for large numbers of biological or chemical samples uses n modules each in good thermal contact with the samples, but substantially isolated from one another, thermally and functionally. Each module carries samples on an upper sample plate. The module has a temperature sensor adjacent the samples, an electrical resistance heating element, and a circulating fluid heat exchanger for step cooling. Heating occurs at a point generally between the samples and the source of the cooling. The modules are individually replaceable. O-rings automatically seal fluid and electrical interfaces. An electrical controller has n simultaneous channels that provide closed loop control of the electrical power to each module. As a method, the invention includes at least one modular temperature zone where the temperature is sensed at a point adjacent the samples in that zone. The samples are heated adjacent the sample plate. Cooling is by a step change. The cooling overshoots a set lower temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a three dimensional sensing system which utilizes two flexibly located cameras for receiving and recording visual information with respect to a sensed object illuminated by a series of light planes. Each pixel of each image is converted to a digital word and the words are grouped into stripes, each stripe comprising contiguous pixels. One pixel of each stripe in one image is selected and an epi-polar line of that point is drawn in the other image. The three dimensional coordinate of each selected point is determined by determining the point on said epi-polar line which also lies on a stripe in the second image and which is closest to a known light plane.

Abstract: An actuator operates an upper plate assembly which holds a plurality of metal rods, such that all the rods are moved together along parallel longitudinal axes into respective tubes. The plurality of tubes is held by a lower plate assembly, a different tube for each rod. Liquid (sample fluid) is drawn into the individual tubes by the actuator raising the upper plate assembly with respect to the lower plate assembly and hence causing the rods to simultaneously traverse the length of the respective tubes from the distal ends of the tubes to the proximal ends of the tubes. The collected liquid is dispensed by the actuator lowering the upper plate assembly such that the metal rods are simultaneously lowered into the corresponding tubes. The rods are lowered very rapidly and stopped abruptly. This imparts sufficient velocity to the collected sample fluid within the tubes such that the samples under inertia separate from and cleanly exit the distal ends of the tubes.

Abstract: The invention comprises a flexible parts feeding system which can feed a large number of different types of parts to a manipulator. The system comprises a vibrating platform, a conveyor belt, a series of guides to assist in positioning and orienting parts, a vision based system for determining the orientation of a part in the staging area, and computer programming for instructing the manipulator to grasp the part if it is properly oriented in the staging area. The vibratory amplitude and speed, the speed of the conveyor belts, the positioning of the guides and the part signature of the vision system are all programmable responsive to the part which is to be fed.