Beckman Instruments, Inc.

Richard S Kampf

Richard W Winn

Donald L Horrocks

Chul H Sohn

Aurangzeb K Khan

Henry G Dowling

In a liquid scintillation counter, a standard radioactive source is supported in a bead position of a bead chain, flexible conveyor. The conveyor is guided for movement along a closed-loop conveyor path in sliding engagement within a conduit guideway for conveying the source between an operating position adjacent the counting chamber and a remote shielded position. The conveyor may support one or more sources for conveyance to one or more counting chambers along the conveyor path.

Apparatus for positioning an external radioactive standard in a liquid

A transfer mechanism for movement of sample containing vials from a first position to a second position in an analyzer instrument such as a liquid scintillation or a gamma counting device. The apparatus is particularly adaptable where available space is limited. A flexible transport member permits the transformation of movement in one direction into movement in another direction. Sensors and adjusting screws are incorporated into the apparatus for precisely controlling the travel distance of the transport member as well as precisely orienting the direction of the transport member.

Sample container transfer mechanism

In a liquid scintillation counter a standard radioactive source is supported within the tubular bore of a flexible coil spring conveyor. Spacer elements within the coil spring retain the source at a predetermined axial position along the spring. The coil spring is disposed in sliding engagement along a conveyor guideway. A drive roller drivingly engages the spring for conveying the source along the guideway between an operating position adjacent the counting chamber and a remote shielded position.

Coil spring conveyor for positioning an external radioactive standard in

Sample handling apparatus for circulating one or more sample holders along a rectilinear path in a sample holder storage compartment and past an operating station at which the holders may be removed from and then returned to the compartment. First and second parallel conveyors on opposite sides of the operating station drive the holders toward and away from the operating station. Lateral drivers engage the holders in longitudinal stop positions at opposite ends of the conveyors and drive them laterally between conveyors to lateral stop positions, one of the holders during lateral movement being driven into and away from an operative position at the operating station. A movable sample compartment divider between the conveyors is indexed in synchronism with the lateral drivers to engage and stabilize the sample holder at the operating station. Circulation of the holders is monitored by proximity switches at the longitudinal stop positions, limit switches at the lateral stop positions, intermediate switches in each lateral path between conveyors, and an indexing switch actuated by the movable divider.

Sample handling apparatus

Apparatus for transporting elongated sample holders in a sample holder storage compartment past an operating station at which sample tubes contained in the sample holders may be removed and then returned to the sample holders. First and second parallel conveyors on opposite sides of the operating station drive the holders toward and away from the operating station. A lateral drive system engages the holders in longitudinal stop positions at opposite ends of the conveyors and drives them laterally between the conveyors to lateral stop positions, one of the holders during lateral movement being driven into and away from an operative position at the operating station. Encoded labels are displayed on each sample holder for indicating the incremental spacing between the sample tubes carried in the sample holder. Detectors are provided for reading the encoded labels and convey a signal in accordance with the labels to a control system which controls the operation of the first and second conveyors and of the lateral drive system.

Apparatus for transporting sample holders

An assembly for sealing the access passageway to a detector chamber in a scintillation counter instrument. The seal is designed to prevent the entry of any exterior light or environment that could affect the counting or scintillation process when a sample is positioned in the detector chamber. The sealing mechanism operates in conjunction with the scintillation instrument's flexible transport or elevator mechanism that moves a sample containing vial into the detector chamber. A plurality of rotating blades engage the elevator mechanism to form the tight seal. Included in the arrangement is a redundant system to provide a dual sealing capability. The sealing mechanism operates in conjunction with the flexible transport member which allows itself to be centered by the sealing mechanism to achieve the required light seal.

Scintillation counter light seal

Apparatus for transporting elongated sample holders in a sample holder storage compartment past an operating station at which sample tubes contained in the sample holders may be removed and then returned to the sample holders. First and second parallel conveyors on opposite sides of the operating station drive the holders toward and away from the operating station. Lateral drive means engage the holders in longitudinal stop positions at opposite ends of the conveyors and drive them laterally between the conveyors to lateral stop positions, one of the holders during lateral movement being driven into and away from an operative position at the operating station. Encoded label means are displayed on each sample holder for indicating the incremental spacing between the sample tubes carried in the sample holder. Detector means are provided for reading the encoded label means and convey a signal in accordance with the label means to control means which control the operation of the first and second conveyor means and of the lateral drive means.

A retractible stop mechanism is disclosed, for a conveyor system or the like, in which a stop member is moved up and down between a retracted position and a position in which it blocks an article, and a pivoted tension link is connected between the supporting structure and the stop member to provide the reaction force against the force exerted by the blocked article on the stop member, thereby removing frictional resistance to retraction of the stop member. Also, the location of the pivot of the tension link is such that a force component is developed which assists the retracting force acting on the stop member.

Retractible stop having reduced retraction resistance

A sample vial guide for scintillation spectrometers or other sample handling systems in which sample vials are moved in a horizontal path to a first operating station, transferred vertically therefrom to a second station such as a radiation measuring chamber, and returned along the vertical path to the first station for continued movement along the horizontal path away from the first station. The sample vial guide includes first and second opposing jaws at the first station on opposite sides of the horizontal path and having opposing interior surfaces which surround and define a constrained area at the first station for a sample vial. The jaws are hinged to pivot laterally away from the horizontal path and include cam surfaces on each jaw for engaging a sample vial as it moves along the horizontal path to or from the first station to move the jaws to an open position to accommodate such horizontal movement of the vial.

Sample vial guide

Improved means for expelling sample carriers which have been automatically elevated to the sample measuring chamber of a radiation measuring apparatus, from the measuring chamber. The means are collapsible within the instrument housing, as to remain therein as a sample carrier is elevated toward the measuring chamber. Additionally, the means comprise a disposable contamination member which can be removed and discarded in the event of contamination.

Means for expelling sample carriers from a radiation measuring apparatus

A vacuum operated system for transferring fluid from a container to an open or relatively large sump without applying vacuum to the sump. A small, closed, intermediate chamber is interposed in a flow path between the container and the sump. Vacuum from a small vacuum source is applied to the intermediate chamber and draws fluid from the container through a first conduit into the chamber. A peristaltic pump draws fluid from the chamber through a second conduit to the sump while maintaining a vacuum seal for the chamber preventing loss of vacuum through the second conduit.

Fluid transfer system

A set point adjust mechanism is disclosed for use with process controllers to manually adjust the set point value and simultaneously change the set point value indicated. The set point adjust mechanism includes a manually actuable thumbwheel and an idler wheel mounted in contact with each other on a slider. Thumb pressure on the thumbwheel causes the slider to move so that the idler wheel contacts an indicator drive wheel. The set point value source, usually a potentiometer, is connected to the indicator drive wheel which also drives a belt that positions a pointer with respect to a scale. The pointer and scale provide the set point indication. When the pointer hits a pointer stop, or for any other reason resists motion, further rotation of the thumbwheel causes the idler wheel to move to engage a mechanical stop to prevent further thumb pressure from causing dislocation between the indicated set point value and the set point value source.

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Costa Mesa, CA, United States of America

Richard S Kampf