Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Sal Noto

Harvey L Schulte

A test tube handling assembly has an elongate member with an end for engaging a test tube and an end opposite thereto driven about an axis of the member for orbital movement with its axis. The member is a slender rod with a spherical bearing about a center part thereon between the ends thereof and along its axis. An arm extends from a support to carry the spherical bearing and permit limited motion of the rod relative to the support. A gripping means on the end for engaging the test tube holds the test tube and its contents during movement of the rod relative to the axis. A drive located on the support near the end opposite causes the test tube to swing about the center part. Contacting means with a seal for closing the open end of the test tube is part of an inflatable bladder which holds the open end of the test tube by fitting in the open end of the test tube. The drive has a motor for providing orbital motion. The motor axis and the member axis are in spaced parallel relation relative to each other with a linkage means therebetween to cause the axis of the member to move about the axis of the motor imparting an orbital motion to the end opposite of the member thereby orbiting the end for engaging the test tube. A three axis positioning means carries the support by connection with a releasable latching means. A method has steps of holding a test tube by the gripping means, moving the test tube repetitively with the drive and generating orbital movement of the test tube and sample therein for producing a vortex in the test tube sample.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Sal Noto