US 12,221,298 B2
Automated station for a pneumatic transport system for histological samples, configured for the automated loading and/or unloading of histological samples, and process for transporting and handling histological samples
Gianandrea Pedrazzini, Paradiso (CH)
Assigned to Inpeco SA, Novazzano (CH)
Filed by Inpeco SA, Novazzano (CH)
Filed on Sep. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/944,505.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000023804 (IT), filed on Sep. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0083333 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 51/32 (2006.01); B65G 51/16 (2006.01); B65G 51/36 (2006.01); A61B 10/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 51/32 (2013.01) [B65G 51/16 (2013.01); B65G 51/36 (2013.01); A61B 10/0096 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pneumatic transport system for histological samples, comprising:
a pneumatic transport tube,
at least one carrier configured to be pneumatically transported in the pneumatic transport tube and arranged to contain histological samples, and
a station connected to said pneumatic transport tube, for loading and/or unloading the histological samples,
wherein:
said carrier is in the form of a substantially cylindrical capsule, having a side carrier door with a hinge axis parallel to an axis of the carrier, said carrier door is configured to be moved between a closed position, for the transport of the histological samples through the pneumatic transport tube, and an open position, for the loading and/or unloading of the histological samples in/from the station,
said station comprises a station tubular structure coaxially connected to said pneumatic transport tube and arranged to receive the carrier at an end of a stroke of the carrier within the pneumatic transport tube, said station tubular structure having a station door in a side wall thereof, with a hinge axis parallel to an axis of the pneumatic transport tube, said station door is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position,
said station further comprises a stop member, to stop said carrier when the carrier reaches a final position within the station, and a servo-controlled electric motor, to impart a rotation to said carrier around the axis of the carrier, by means of said stop member, until a mating condition is reached in which the carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of the station door,
said station further comprises an actuator to control a rotation of the station door between the station door closed position and the station door open position,
said station door and said carrier door are configured so as to engage each other when the carrier door is in said mating condition and said actuator controls an opening of the station door, so that an opening of the station door also causes an opening of the carrier door,
said system comprising an electronic controller configured to:
activate said servo-controlled electric motor which controls the rotation of the carrier about the axis of the carrier after the electronic controller has received a signal from a sensor which detects an arrival of the carrier at the final position in the station,
stop said servo-controlled electric motor, so as to stop said rotation of the carrier about the axis of the carrier and activate said actuator which controls the opening of the carrier door and of the station door, when the electronic controller receives a second signal from a second sensor which detects that said mating condition of the carrier door and the station door has been reached,
so that when said carrier reaches said station, accessibility to the histological samples contained in the carrier is obtained in an automated manner.