Patent ID: 6764649
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A transport mechanism for transporting a reaction receptacle between stations of an automated analyzer, the reaction receptacle including a manipulating structure, said transport mechanism comprising:a receptacle carrier assembly constructed and arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and to receive a reaction receptacle and carry the reaction receptacle while said receptacle carrier assembly rotates about said axis of rotation; a manipulating hook member interrelated with said receptacle carrier assembly so as to be movable with respect thereto, said manipulating hook member being constructed and arranged to be engageable with the manipulating structure of the reaction receptacle; and a hook member drive assembly including a hook motor having fixed structure carried by said receptacle carrier assembly in a fixed position with respect thereto and a lead screw mechanism including a threaded shaft oriented in a generally radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation and having an end coupled to said manipulating hook member, said lead screw mechanism being operatively coupled with said hook motor and being constructed and arranged to convert powered motion of said hook motor into movement of said threaded shaft with respect to said fixed structure of said hook motor in either axial direction of said threaded shaft to thereby cause corresponding movement of said manipulating hook member with respect to said receptacle carrier assembly so that a reaction receptacle engaged by said manipulating hook member can be moved with respect to said receptacle carrier assembly.