Adept Technology, Inc.

Other

Pepsico, Inc.

Ljl Biosystems, Inc.

Document Imaging Systems Corp.

Disc, Inc.

John W Meadows

Brian R Carlisle

Donald R Allan

Carl R Witham

Douglas N Modlin

Richard J Casler, Jr

Glenn R Edwards

Samuel Ascher Marquiss

Amer El-Hage

Salvatore J Brogna

Burt Shulman

Thomas V Fugate

Joseph F Lynders

C Graham Baxter

Devices for automatically feeding sample containers into and out of an analyzer. The device may include (1) a first station that receives and initiates transport of a sample container into an analyzer for analysis, (2) a second station where the sample container is handed off to a transporter that carries the sample container to and from an examination site inside the analyzer, and (3) a third station that collects the sample container after examination. The device also may include a singulation mechanism configured to separate a sample container from a stack of sample containers, and/or a stacking mechanism configured to add a sample container to a stack of sample containers. The singulation and stacking mechanisms may include lifter and latch components.

Sample feeder

Frame assembly for a data storage and retrieval system of the type in which data storage cartridges are transported between storage locations and drive locations where data is written to and read from the cartridges. The frame includes a backplane which has a generally planar front surface, a plurality of spaced apart divider plates projecting in a forward direction from the front surface of the backplane, and a plurality of crossbars extending across the front portions of the divider plates and defining with the divider plates a plurality of cartridge cells and drive locations. Guide blocks which define slots for the cartridges project in the forward direction from the front surface of the backplane adjacent to the crossbars on opposite sides of the cartridge cells. Bezel strips extend along the front portions of the crossbars and interfit with the crossbars and the guide blocks, and bezel plates extend across the drive locations and interfit with the crossbars on opposite sides of the drive locations. The assembly is held together by screws which extend between the bezel strips and bezel plates and the backplane.

Frame assembly for data storage and retrieval system

CD-ROM caddy for use in a system having a transport mechanism for transferring CD-ROMs between storage locations and drive units. The caddy has a pair of handles formed in an edge portion thereof, with apertures adjacent to the handles permitting access to the handles. The caddy is withdrawn from a storage location or a drive unit by advancing a pair of axially extending fingers with laterally extending hook portions toward the caddy with the fingers passing to one side of the caddy. When the hook portions are aligned with the apertures, the fingers are moved laterally to position the hook portions in the apertures, then the fingers are retracted with the hook portions engaging the handles to withdraw the caddy with the fingers.

CD-ROM handling apparatus and method

An articulated direct drive robotic manipulator providing rotation of first and second arms about first and second parallel axes including first and second motors for driving the rotation of the first and second arms. A pedestal is mounted on a base, the first motor is directly coupled to a rotatable column in the pedestal for providing a first robot arm with a first degree of freedom, a second motor is coupled to a rotatable column coaxial to the first column for providing the manipulator with a second degree of freedom by rotation of the second arm. The distal end of the second arm includes support for an end effector for movement about a third axis which is a vertical axis and a fourth axis which is a rotational axis and support for a quill. Also included is a modular device adapted to be coupled to the end of the quill which can move within horizontal planes passing through the third axis to provide a fifth degree of freedom.

Direct drive robotic system

Modular data storage and retrieval system having data cells for holding a plurality of optical storage cartridges, drive cells for holding devices such as drives for transcribing data on the cartridges, and a back plate on which the cells can be mounted in any desired combination. Two types of mounting positions are provided, one for either data cells or drive cells, the other for data cells. Two or more sections of the system can be placed side-by-side, stacked and/or placed back-to-back to provide a larger system. Each section is provided with at least one picker for moving the cartridges between the cells in the section. In some embodiments, a single picker is provided for each section, and in other embodiments a separate picker is provided for each row of cells. The back plates have registration pins which engage sockets on the cells to assure accurate alignment of the cells on the plates. The cells are symmetrical with regard to the way they mount, and they can be oriented in two different positions, e.g. with the cartridges turned horizontally or vertically.

Modular data storage and retrieval system

An automated drinkmaker system which is designed to accept an input drink order, as from a cash register, and deliver the drink order, for different sizes and different flavors, with or without ice, completely finished in lidded containers to an output station. The automated drinkmaker system is designed for labor free processing of drink orders in high volume quick service or fast food establishments. The machine is designed around a carousel type of drink transporter which intermittently carries each drink to and from four circularly spaced stations, cup dispensing, ice dispensing, soda dispensing, lid application and marking. The carousel design allows a cup to be dispensed at one station while another cup is being filled with ice at a second station, and yet another is being filled with soda at a third station, etc. The use of carousels is extended to both cup and lid dispensing. The system is designed to interface with any commercially-available, portioning ice dispenser, and also to interface directly with a cash register system to enable the cashier to input a customer's order. At an output station, the cup is transferred from the carousel to a linear transporter elevator which carries the cup up and down through a lidding and marking procedure, after which the completed drink is transferred to an output conveyor.

Automated drinkmaker system

A direct drive robot which includes a pedestal having two motors which rotate around a common axis to directly drive rotation of first and of second linking arms which are rotating in a plane perpendicular to this pedestal. The first, inner link is preferably driven through a column directly driven by a first motor rotor, the column supporting the inner end of the link. The second, outer link is driven by the second coaxial direct drive motor through a simple, highly-tensioned belt and pulley arrangement. As a result of this direct drive arrangement, movement is provided about two separate parallel axes by two arms arranged perpendicular to the first axis which mounts the two major driving motors of the robot. These two arms are linked together between this major pedestal and the end effector of the robot, centralizing the driving motors at the main stabilizing pedestal, while providing rapid rotational movement around each of the two axes. The first axis is defined by the major pedestal, the second axis is defined by the junction between the inner and outer linking arms which connect the pedestal to the end effector.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos Hills, CA, United States of America

John W Meadows