US 11,999,054 B2
Gripper for a laboratory container sorting device
Norbert Schmitt, Lucerne (CH)
Assigned to ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/304,806.
Claims priority of application No. 20185119 (EP), filed on Jul. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0009110 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B25J 15/06 (2006.01); B25J 9/02 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B25J 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC B25J 15/0666 (2013.01) [B25J 9/023 (2013.01); B25J 9/1697 (2013.01); B25J 15/08 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gripper for a laboratory container sorting device comprising:
a vacuum gripper comprising a suction cup, wherein the vacuum gripper is configured to move the suction cup between a pickup position and a transfer position, wherein the suction cup is configured to pick up a laboratory container when the suction cup is in the pickup position, to hold the laboratory container, and to transfer the laboratory container when the suction cup is in the transfer position,
a mechanical gripper, wherein the mechanical gripper is configured to grip and release the laboratory container when the suction cup is in the transfer position,
wherein the vacuum gripper comprises an extendable and retractable pipe with two ends, wherein the suction cup is attached at one end and a vacuum source is operatively coupled to the other end, wherein the extendable and retractable pipe is configured to be extended for moving the suction cup from the transfer position to the pickup position, wherein the extendable and retractable pipe is configured to be retracted for moving the suction cup from the pickup position to the transfer position, wherein the generated vacuum for holding the laboratory container is inside the extendable and retractable pipe, and wherein the extendable and retractable pipe is configured to be retracted by the vacuum inside the extendable and retractable pipe.