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PATENTS

Specimen vial sealing apparatus and method

Application number: 20030097824

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying seals made of thin material to the open tops of containers, e.g., specimen containers for holding biological fluid that are processed automatically. A measured length of sealing material is advanced across and pressed against the top of the container to effect a seal. Depending on the type of sealing material used, sealing may be accomplished by application of pressure alone, by application of heat and pressure, or by application of ultrasonic energy and pressure. Excess sealing material optionally may be folded against the container sides by means of a folding member adapted to surround a container when the sealing head is lowered. Motor-driven rollers advance the sealing material, while a platen on a movably mounted sealing head presses the sealing material into engagement with the container.

Type:Application

Filed: October 21, 2002

Issued: May 29, 2003

Assignee: MONOGEN, INC.

Inventors: William J. Mayer, Lucien J. Wroblewski

Article dispensing apparatus and method

Application number: 20030089731

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing articles, one at a time, from the bottom of a stack of like articles. The articles are yieldably supported in at least one upright stack above an outlet, e.g., a resilient choke, sized to pass the articles if forced therethrough. Articles are dispensed by pressing downwardly on the stack with sufficient force and for sufficient duration to overcome the yieldable supporting force and move the lowest article through the outlet. Sensors may be provided for sensing when an article is dispensed, when the tube is empty, and the type of article in the holder. The method and apparatus are especially useful in a vial-based automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid, wherein a filter assembly must be dispensed into a filtration chamber associated with each specimen vial.

Type:Application

Filed: October 21, 2002

Issued: May 15, 2003

Assignee: MONOGEN, INC.

Inventors: William J. Mayer, Lucien J. Wroblewski

Power conveyor

Patent number: 5036968

Abstract: A device for conveying articles along a path defined by a track, said device having a conveyor for moving the articles along the track in a stop arrangement for interrupting the movement of the articles along the track to create an accumulation of the articles in a batch adjacent the stop arrangement characterized by the conveying arrangement comprising a belt having tines extending from one side, said continuous belt being positioned with only the tines extending into the path for engaging the articles to move them along the track and with the tines slipping past those articles, whose movement has been interrupted by the stop arrangement.

Type: Grant

Filed: June 26, 1989

Issued: August 6, 1991

Inventor: Lucien J. Wroblewski

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