US 11,891,597 B2
Device and method for automatic processing of culture plates for microbiological samples
Daniele Triva, Bovezzo (IT)
Assigned to Copan Italia S.p.A., Brescia (IT)
Filed by Copan Italia S.p.A., Brescia (IT)
Filed on Dec. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/135,380.
Application 17/135,380 is a continuation of application No. 16/739,635, filed on Jan. 10, 2020, granted, now 10,913,926.
Application 16/739,635 is a continuation of application No. 14/787,202, granted, now 10,550,362, issued on Feb. 4, 2020, previously published as PCT/IB2014/060933, filed on Apr. 23, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. MI2013A000692 (IT), filed on Apr. 26, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0115386 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12M 1/36 (2006.01); C12M 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/26 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12N 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 41/48 (2013.01) [C12M 23/10 (2013.01); C12M 23/50 (2013.01); C12M 23/52 (2013.01); C12M 33/00 (2013.01); C12M 41/06 (2013.01); C12M 41/46 (2013.01); C12N 1/20 (2013.01); G01N 35/00029 (2013.01); G01N 35/00732 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic processing device of culture plates for microbiological samples, wherein the processing device comprises:
a support frame;
a carrier provided with a seating configured for removably housing a culture plate for microbiological samples, the carrier being movably mounted on the support frame and configured to be selectively displaceable between a first loading position of the culture plate on the carrier, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and a first unloading position of the culture plate from the carrier;
a linear camera, provided with a telecentric optic and configured to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linear images of corresponding linear portions of a surface of the culture plate housed on the carrier, during the displacing of the carrier, each linear image being acquired at a relative image acquiring position of the image acquiring zone, the automatic processing device being configured to assemble the linear images obtaining overall images of the culture plate;
a movable support of the carrier configured to provide an advancing movement of the carrier in the image-acquiring zone; and
an electronic controller, programmed to control at least the functioning of the camera and of the movable support, to acquire and assemble the multiplicity of linear images.