Patent GB-1326067-A (GB)
Title: Automated centrifuging system
IPC: G01N35/02
Filed: 1970-11-06
Abstract: 1326067 Feeding articles to, and discharge from, endless conveyer belts ROHE SCIENTIFIC CORP 6 Nov 1970 [7 Nov 1969] 52984/70 Heading B8A [Also in Division B2] Samples, e.g. of blood, contained in sample containers 156 are automatically centrifuged by sequentially conveying the containers on a first conveyer 104 to a loading position; rotationally indexing a centrifuge apparatus 500 through the loading position and sequentially transferring the sample containers by first transfer means 112 at the loading position from the first conveyer on to the centrifuging apparatus; rotating the centrifuging apparatus at a speed sufficient to centrifuge the samples; rotationally indexing the centrifuge apparatus through an unloading position and sequentially transferring the sample containers by a second transfer means 132 at the unloading position from the centrifuge apparatus on to a second conveyer 140, and sequentially conveying the sample containers on the second conveyer away from the unloading position. The conveyers 104, 140 may be in the form of endless belt conveyers each driven by a sprocket 108 connected to an indexing motor 185. The sample containers 156 are test-tubes which are positioned in holders 106 permanently attached to the belt conveyers. The centrifuge apparatus comprises a trunnion carrier 500 having radial spokes at the ends of which are recesses in which cups 501 are swivably arranged to receive the test-tubes 156 transferred from the conveyer 104 so that during centrifuging the test-tubes fly out to a horizontal position. The carrier 500 is mounted on a shaft 504 which during centrifuging is driven by a motor 503 through a magnetic clutch 505, and which during loading and unloading of the test-tubes is indexed by a motor 510A acting through a Geneva movement 510B, a magnetic clutch 510, and bevel gears 508, 509. Each transfer means includes a clamp 167 secured to a rod 168 which is rotatable by a motor 176 through gears 172, 174. The rod is arranged to be lifted and lowered by a cam 169 operated by a motor 170. The test tubes are loaded into the cups 501 on the trunnion 500 by positioning the clamp 167 over a test tube 156 on the conveyer 104 with the rod 168 maintained in its elevated position by the cam 169, the motor 176 being stopped. A solenoid 179 is actuated to open the clamp 167 which is then lowered by the cam 169 over the neck 19 of the test-tube 156. The solenoid is deactuated so that the test tube is clamped in the clamp 167. The cam is now rotated to raise the rod 168 so that the test tube 156 clears the holder 106. The drive motor 176 is actuated so that the clamp rotates through 180 degrees to position the test-tube over a trunnion cup 501. Further rotation of the cam 169 lowers the test tube 156 into the trunnion cup 151. The solenoid 181 is actuated to release the test tube and the cam 169 raises the clamp 167 away from the test tube, the drive motor 176 then being excited to repeat the cycle. During movement of the clamp 107 index motor 185 is actuated to move the belt 104 through the sprocket 108 to position a second test tube for loading. At the same time, motor 510A indexes the trunnion carrier 500 to move the next cup 501 to a position ready for loading the next test tube. The positioning of the clamp 167 over the trunnion cups 501 and over the holders 106 is controlled by a light and photo-cell arrangement 192, 194 which controls a timer switch. When test tubes have been loaded into all the cups of the trunnion carrier, the motor 510A is disconnected from the shaft 504 of the carrier and the motor 503 is operated to drive the shaft at centrifuging speed for a preset time and then stopped. The test tubes are then unloaded by the second transfer means 132 from the carrier 500 on to the belt conveyer 140. In a modification, one or both of the conveyers may take the form of a movable support rack for the test tubes. In a further modification, the motor 503 may be used to move the test tubes on the trunnion carrier during loading. In this case, a photo-cell and light assembly or a Geneva movement is used to position the trunnion cups sequentially in place.