US 12,392,792 B2
Receptacle transport system for an analytical system
Rolf Silbert, Del Mar, CA (US); HongRan Peng, San Diego, CA (US); David Aaron Buse, San Diego, CA (US); and David H. Combs, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/592,344.
Application 18/592,344 is a continuation of application No. 17/608,745, granted, now 12,210,028, previously published as PCT/US2020/030481, filed on Apr. 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,019, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/842,585, filed on May 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0201211 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 35/04 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/06 (2006.01); B65G 43/08 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/04 (2013.01) [B01L 3/5453 (2013.01); B01L 9/06 (2013.01); B65G 43/08 (2013.01); B65G 47/902 (2013.01); G01N 35/00584 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); G01N 35/1079 (2013.01); B01L 2300/021 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); B65G 2203/044 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00752 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0406 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0494 (2013.01); G01N 2035/103 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument, comprising:
supporting a receptacle in a carriage;
activating an electric motor to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument while the receptacle is supported by the carriage;
applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location by moving a pair of support pads into contact with the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location; and
releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location by moving the pair of contact pads away from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location, wherein applying the clamping force and releasing the clamping force each comprises rotating a pair of meshed gears coupled to the pair of support pads in opposite directions relative to each other as the carriage moves between the first and second locations.