Patent ID: 7494168
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: B01L,B66C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A hand-held pick unit for selecting, transporting and placing test tubes, the pick unit comprising: a housing having a hand-grip portion, a control portion and a pick portion, wherein: an actuator mechanism contained in the housing and having an actuator member connected to two of the extending finger members and actuated by the actuator control, wherein on user operation of the actuator control, the actuator mechanism displaces the actuator member and the two extending finger members connected to the actuator member and displaces the end prongs of the displaced finger members relative to the other two end prongs, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a cam action guide that co-acts with the two displaceable finger members to spread the displaceable finger members when the displaceable finger members are displaced, and wherein the cam action guide comprises a bracket having oval holes and two displaceable finger members are slender rods arranged through the holes in contact with the bracket with constricted portions of the rods proximate the oval holes, wherein the constricted portions allow the finger members to spread when the finger members are displaced and the constricted portions locate in the oval holes in contact with the bracket.