The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 2021
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2018
Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Hans van Mierlo, Waalwijk, NL;
Gottlieb Schacher, Kriens, CH;
Marcel Kaeppeli, Merenschwand, CH;
Reto Huesser, Cham, CH;
Andreas Drechsler, Baar, CH;
Matthias Goetz, Zurich, CH;
Nenad Milicevic, Baar, CH;
Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.