Patent US3710120A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3710120A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manually operated sample changing elevator and light sealing mechanism for scintillation counters and the like
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-28
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1990-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A sample changing and light sealing mechanism is illustrated and described for moving a sample from one vertical plane to another into a counting chamber while maintaining the light integrity within the chamber. Upon movement of the control arm toward a loading position, a cam on said control arm rotates an actuator wheel and arm to raise the elevator table from a counting position to within an elevator passageway and make a light tight seal at the chamber end of the passageway. The actuator wheel is stopped during further movement of the control arm which then opens an outer shutter over the passageway. The actuator wheel is then again rotated to raise the elevator still further so that the sample may be removed and replaced. Movement in the opposite direction reverses the sequence such that the chamber is at all times sealed against ambient light.
Inventors
- 👤 D Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R7/00; G01R7/04; G01R7/08; G01T; G01T7/00; G01T7/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/1828
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
In a sample changing and light seal mechanism of the type having an elevator shaft and table for lowering a sample through an elevator passageway into a chamber, the light seal sealing said elevator passageway at the entrance to the chamber after said table has entered the passageway and a shutter for sealing the end of said elevator passageway opposite said chamber, the improvement comprising: a pivotally mounted, manually operable control arm having cam means actuated by movement thereof; an actuator wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said cam means and rotated thereby; an actuator arm mounted for rotation with said actuator wheel and driven thereby, said actuator arm engaging said elevator shaft to raise and lower said shaft upon rotation of saiD actuator wheel; a first working surface on said control arm cam means engaging said actuator wheel and imparting rotational movement to said wheel through a given angle as said control arm is moved in said first direction, said rotational movement imparting sufficient movement to said elevator shaft to raise said elevator table from within a chamber into said elevator passageway and to seal the chamber end of said passageway with said light sealing mechanism; a non-working surface on said control arm cam means for preventing further rotational movement of said actuator wheel during further movement of said control arm in said first direction; said control arm engaging said shutter to open said shutter during said further movement in said first direction; a second working surface on said control arm cam means for engaging said actuator wheel upon still further movement of said control arm in said first direction to raise said elevator shaft further within said passageway; said control arm engaging and closing said shutter during movement in the opposite direction to lower said elevator shaft to its original position, said shutter being closed before the light seal at the chamber end of said elevator passageway is broken.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
In a sample changing and light seal mechanism of the type having an elevator shaft and table for lowering a sample through an elevator passageway into a chamber, the light seal sealing said elevator passageway at the entrance to the chamber after said table has entered the passageway and a shutter for sealing the end of said elevator passageway opposite said chamber, the improvement comprising: a pivotally mounted, manually operable control arm having cam means actuated by movement thereof; an actuator wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said cam means and rotated thereby; an actuator arm mounted for rotation with said actuator wheel and driven thereby, said actuator arm engaging said elevator shaft to raise and lower said shaft upon rotation of saiD actuator wheel; a first working surface on said control arm cam means engaging said actuator wheel and imparting rotational movement to said wheel through a given angle as said control arm is moved in said first direction, said rotational movement imparting sufficient movement to said elevator shaft to raise said elevator table from within a chamber into said elevator passageway and to seal the chamber end of said passageway with said light sealing mechanism; a non-working surface on said control arm cam means for preventing further rotational movement of said actuator wheel during further movement of said control arm in said first direction; said control arm engaging said shutter to open said shutter during said further movement in said first direction; a second working surface on said control arm cam means for engaging said actuator wheel upon still further movement of said control arm in said first direction to raise said elevator shaft further within said passageway; said control arm engaging and closing said shutter during movement in the opposite direction to lower said elevator shaft to its original position, said shutter being closed before the light seal at the chamber end of said elevator passageway is broken.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising: a third working surface on said control arm cam means for engaging said actuator wheel during at least a portion of the movement of said control arm in said opposite direction to return said actuator wheel to its initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said actuator wheel has a bearing mounted on the side thereof, said control arm cam means engaging said bearing to impart rotation to said actuator wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said actuator wheel and said actuator arm are mounted on a common rotatable shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said elevator shaft includes a laterally projecting pin, said actuator arm having a bifurcated end engaging said pin to impart movement of said shaft along its axis upon rotational movement of said actuator arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said actuator arm is positioned such that the mass of said arm and said elevator shaft and table tend to rotate said arm and said actuator wheel to return said elevator table into said chamber and means adjacent said control arm to lock said control arm at its extreme position of movement in said first direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 6 in combination with a liquid scintillation counter having a sample counting chamber and wherein said elevator table, said light sealing mechanism and at least a portion of said elevator shaft are contained within said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 6 in combination with a liquid scintillation counter having a sample counting chamber and wherein said elevator shaft and table, said light sealing mechanism and said actuator control arm are contained within said counting chamber, said control arm and actuator wheel being mounted exteriorly to said chamber and said common shaft extending through a wall forming a portion of said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said shutter is pivotally mounted by a removable pivot pin whereby said shutter may be moved in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of said shutter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The sample changing and light sealing mechanism according to claim 9 wherein said shutter mechanism is mounted adjacent said control arm and having a first portion extending into the path of movement of said control arm in said first direction whereby said shutter is rotated to open said elevator passageway as said control arm is moved in said first direction, said shutter having a second portion extending into the path of movement of said control arm when said shutter is open to close said shutter when said control arm is moved in the opposite direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |