Patent ID: 7102124
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. In a specimen processing system configured to support a transport box in which one or more specimens are stored, the box comprising a box cover having an opening that provides access to specimens stored or to store specimens in the box, and a removable box door that opens and closes the opening of the box, a box load interface comprising; a retractable port door attachable to the box door to selectively move the box door toward or away from the box cover to thereby close or open it; a port plate having a port plate aperture through which the box door can move as the port door moves the box door toward or away from the box cover; and a port door multi-axial positioning mechanism for selectively moving the port door toward or away from the port plate aperture along first and second transverse paths of travel, the positioning mechanism including: a link carriage operatively connected to the port door and to a drive mechanism that moves a drive carriage along the first travel path relative to a spatial reference datum; a pivot-link structure including a pivot link pivotally mounted at opposite ends to the link carriage and the drive carriage, the pivot-link structure contributing to movement of the link carriage and the drive carriage in unison for a distance along the first travel path; a guide positioned in fixed relationship relative to the reference datum to prevent movement of the link carriage along the first travel path beyond a location corresponding to a position of the port door in proximity to the port plate aperture so that, as the drive mechanism moves the drive carriage along the first travel path while the guide prevents the link carriage from moving along the first travel path, the pivot link pivotally moves to cause the link carriage to move along the second travel path and thereby move the port door toward or away from the port plate aperture, depending on a direction of movement of the drive carriage along the first travel path relative to the link carriage.