IP Library Granted Patent US 6,898,296
Granted Patent B2
US 6,898,296 · App. 09/878,357 · Granted May 24, 2005

Specimen processing system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,898,296
App. No.
09/878,357
Granted
May 24, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A specimen processing system according to the present invention includes a plurality of specimen processing units each having flat sides and a specimen operating surface and operated singly. The specimen processing units have at least the same depth dimension, and the specimen operating surfaces of the specimen processing units have the same height dimension. The system further includes a coupling section for closely coupling the right and left sides of the specimen processing units to each other and a single driving control unit for controlling a related operation of all of the specimen processing units coupled to each other by the coupling section and a single operation of a designated one of the specimen processing units.

Claims (11)

1. A specimen processing system comprising:

a plurality of specimen processing units each having flat sides and a specimen operating surface and operated singly, the specimen processing units having at least a same depth dimension, and the specimen operating surfaces of the specimen processing units having a same height dimension;

coupling means for closely coupling right and left sides of the specimen processing units to each other; and

a single driving control unit for controlling a related operation of all of the specimen processing units coupled to each other by the coupling means and a single operation of a designated one of the specimen processing units;

each said specimen processing unit including:

a unit housing having right and left sides parallel to each other said specimen operating surface being perpendicular to the right and left sides of said unit housing parallel to a around surface, and located at a set height above the around surface;

a specimen carry-in/carry-out lane formed on said specimen operating surface and having a predetermined lane structure, one end of the specimen carry-in/carry-out lane facing at least one of the right and left sides; and

a unit body for processina a specimen carried into the unit housing through the specimen carry-in/carry-out lane, the processed specimen being carried out through the specimen carry-in/carry-out lane.

2. The specimen processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the unit housing further has front and back sides parallel to each other and perpendicular to the right and left sides.

3. The specimen processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling means is a free-coupling/separation type coupling mechanism including at least one of a mechanical coupling mechanism and a magnetic coupling mechanism.

4. The specimen processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the single driving control unit includes a pneumatic driving section and a control section and is coupled to one of the plurality of specimen processing units.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2011
From: ITOH, TERUAKI
To: IDS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 026087/0837 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2000-189659 · Jun 23, 2000 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20020025064A1 · Feb 28, 2002