AUTOMATED APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR ROUTING SAMPLES TO SELECTABLE TEST STATIONS

• Main Authors: VAN DYKE, BINGHAM H., JR, CONSTABLE, KEVIN N, SAGONA, PETER JOSEPH, O'BRYAN, DAVID P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 13.07.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; CONVEYING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TESTING; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING

This invention relates to an automated apparatus for subjecting samples (9) to one or more selected test procedures (45) at one or more test stations (27, 28). A conveyor system (1) transports uniquely labeled containers (8), said line (1) having at least two lanes (2, 3) for routing said containers...