JPS5944035B2 - disc distribution device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dispensing device.
), in particular a device for the simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of sensitive discs used in laboratory tests.

For example, common experimental procedures used to equate sources of pathogens and antibiotics capable of combating pathogens include the use of pathogen material to inoculate nascent media or cultures, and the use of precise amounts of inoculation. It is conceivable to react the materials with various biochemicals according to a predetermined manner.

Such biochemicals are commercially available in the form of soaked paper discs packaged in seeded cartridge rolls. Such disks are manufactured by Becton Dickinson and C., the assignee of the present invention.
``Min'' by company's BBLDivision
It is commercially available under the trade name ``itek''. In use, various discs impregnated with different biochemicals are placed in a predetermined pattern and reacted with the inoculum, after which the discs undergo regular changes such as coloring and bleaching changes. You will be screened for chemical reactions and given the necessary information regarding the inoculum.

The precision of the pattern in which the discs are impregnated with different biochemicals does not lead to false information about whether the biochemicals reacted or did not react with a particular inoculum. It is important to do so. Various devices have been used to date for the purpose of distributing such sensitive discs according to the desired pattern. For example, such prior art devices include US Pat. No. 3,394,846 and US Pat. No. 2,947,444. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved distributor capable of aligning a plurality of discs in a precise pattern. Another object is to provide a device which allows a particular pattern to be easily repeated over and over again. Another object is to provide such a device which allows the pattern to be easily changed as required to change the position and type of sensitivity of the disc used at any particular location. The above objects and other advantages are achieved in accordance with the present invention, which provides an improvement in dispensing sensitive discs from a cartridge roll into a container having a hollow area for receiving the discs. This is accomplished by providing a device.

The device has a housing with a surface forming a base for receiving a container. A first plate is secured within the housing, the opening being offset from the recess of the container when the container is in the first position and aligned with the recess of the container when the container is in the second position. It's becoming like that. The first plate also has wiper means secured to the plate and extending into the opening. The device further includes a second plate interposed between the first plate and the base and positioned for movement within the housing.
The second plate has an opening that is aligned with the recess of the container when the container is in the first position. Means fixed to the second plate engages a portion of the container such that the second plate moves with the container when the container is displaced to the second position. The device further includes a third plate secured to the second plate for movement therewith. The third plate has a tubular opening aligned with the opening in the first plate for supporting the cartridge roll. The main points of the present invention will be described below.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing sensitive discs into a container having wells for receiving the discs from a cartridge roll. The device consists of a housing having a surface forming a base for receiving a container. A first plate is secured within the housing such that the housing is offset from the recess of the container when the container is in the first position and aligned with the recess of the container when the container is in the second position. It has an opening. The first plate is further provided with wiper means fixed to the plate and extending into the opening. The device also includes a second plate interposed between the first plate and the base and positioned for movement within the housing. The second plate has an opening that is aligned with the nook of the container when the container is in the first position. Means fixed to the second plate engages a portion of the container such that the second plate moves with the container when the container is displaced to the second position.
The device further includes a third plate fixed for co-movement with respect to the second plate. The third plate has a tubular opening aligned with the opening in the first plate for supporting the cartridge roll. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The same numerical symbols are used for similar components throughout the figures. The disc dispensing device, generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1, is comprised of a housing 12 and a cover 14. In use, the cover 14 is removed and the cartridge 16 containing the sensitive disc is inserted through the top of the unit, as will be described in detail below. This cartridge was published on January 28, 1964 by H. E. TaylorOr
No. 3,119,521, issued to US Pat. No. 3,119,521. It will therefore suffice in the present specification to describe this cartridge as consisting of a cylindrical member housing a stack of discs. An opening is provided at the lower end of the cartridge so that one of the discs can be slid out from below the stack by means of a lateral thrust. For this purpose, the disc is supported by a strap 17 extending across its open lower end. Housing 12 has a surface forming a base 18 that supports a container for receiving discs discharged from cartridge 16.

Such a container can have a shape as shown in FIG. 6, for example. The container 20 shown in FIG. 6 consists of a generally flat member 22 having walls 24 with a plurality of concave recesses, each wall receiving a disc 26 and supplying inoculum (1n0 cu1um). It has formed an area that has come to be The container is further provided with a finger branch 28 along the side adjacent the front edge to facilitate handling. Areas 30 for receiving lettules or the like are provided between the finger branches and along a further inoculum storage location 32. A concave recess for the disc is provided in the raised portion 34 of the container, and a cover 36 is adapted to fit thereover to seal the entire raised portion. The container is preferably constructed from an inert, recycled plastic material. Base 18 is sized to suitably receive a container.

A first plate 38 made of stainless steel or other material
is spaced above the base 18 and fixed at a fixed position within the housing. For this purpose, a pair of spaced side walls 40 extend upwardly from the base, and a pair of recesses 42 are provided at the top edges of the side walls. Board 3
38 is inserted into the recess at a distance between the side walls 40 and is prevented from moving by the material bounding the recess. Plate 38 has a plurality of apertures 46 and an equal plurality of wipers 48 extending from the plate into each aperture. The orientation of the aperture 46 and wiper 48 will be discussed in more detail below. A second plate 50 is movably placed inside the housing.

Plate 50 extends between side walls 40 below plate 38. A set of guides 52 extending inwardly from the side wall connects the plate 50.
within the elongated groove 54 of the plate, thereby restricting the anterior and posterior movement of the plate. This guide 52 also prevents the plate 50 from moving upwardly. Branch 56 extends downwardly from the bottom of plate 50 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.
The branch is positioned to engage the rear edge 58 of the container 20 when the container is placed on the base. A plurality of apertures 60 extend within plate 50. The opening is an opening 46 in the plate 38.
in the relaxed position, the openings 60 in plate 50 are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern in plate 30.
The aperture is offset from the aperture 46 of the plate 38, and the aperture is instead flush with the wiper 48 of the plate 38. Associated with each opening 60 is an elongated slot 61 . The elongated slot is sized to receive the strap 17 of the power cartridge 16. A third plate 62 is placed over the first and second plates.

The third plate 62 is secured to the second plate 50 by a plurality of screws 64 extending within the screw holes 66 of the plate 62 so as to engage the screw holes 68 of the plate 50 . The width of the plate 50 is such that the sides 70 of the plate rest over the side walls 40 extending upwardly from the base 18. By pressing from above in this manner, plates 62 and 50 are prevented from moving downward. Guides 52 and branches 54 prevent upward movement of the plate and limit fore-posterior movement, and side walls prevent lateral movement of the plate.
In this way the plate is restricted to only forward and backward movement. A plurality of tubular apertures 70 extend within third plate 62 .

Apertures 70 are arranged in a pattern similar to apertures 46 and 60. In the relaxed position, each opening 70
is aligned with aperture 46 in plate 38 and slot 61 in plate 50 and is therefore offset from aperture 60 in the second plate. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, each opening is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 72 adapted to receive opposing branches 74 of cartridge 16. For this purpose, the tubular opening 70 in the plate 62 is of sufficient depth to receive the entire cartridge branch and is provided with locking means and is provided with a bottom strap 17.
is captured by slot 61 in plate 50 to lock the cartridge in place. The locking means includes a slidable plate 76 interposed between the top of plate 62 and a cover plate 78.

The locking plate has a plurality of circular perforations 80 extending between opposing fingers 82. The cartridge can be easily inserted into or removed from the tubular opening 70 when the cutout 80 is aligned with the tubular opening 70 so that the fingers 82 are retracted. However, when the locking plate is displaced inward to a position where the fingers 82 cover the slots 72,
The cartridge is locked in place. The locking plate 76 is the third
is captured between the top of the third plate and the cover plate 78, which is secured to the third plate by screws 84 passing through openings 86 and engaging threaded holes 88. The cover plate has a plurality of apertures 90 aligned with the tubular apertures 70 in the third plate. In operation, the cartridge is selected to contain a disc impregnated with the desired biochemical and placed in a dispensing device with its strap placed in the slot 61 and the branch secured in place. ing.

A container 20 is mounted on the base 18, joined to the branch 56, as shown in FIG. In this first position, each cartridge is offset from its associated plate hole, which is aligned with the opening 60 in the second plate, so that the opening in the fixed plate 38 It is displaced from 46.
The technician performing this task then pushes the container backwards.
Since the container is connected to the branch 56 of the plate 50, the fourth
Plate 50 also moves rearwardly, as does plate 62 and cartridge 16 extending therein as shown. However, since the plate 38 is prevented from moving, the wiper 48
Relative movement of the disc 92 against the cartridge causes the disc 92 to be displaced from the cartridge and into the opening 46. The size of the slot 54 is as follows. That is, when plate 50 is displaced from its initial or first position toward a second position forming the terminal end of the posterior movement, plate 38
The aperture 46 of the plate 50 is aligned with the aperture 60 of the plate 50 so that the disc 92 falls through the aperture 60 into the precise area of the container 20 which contains the research inoculum. A recess 24 is formed in which the material is placed. The disc is fitted into the hole 6 in the bottom 50 by a protrusion 99 that aligns with the wiper 92.
It passes through 0 and is pushed downward. The disk is thus aligned within the aperture 24 of the plate 20. The downwardly directed protrusion 100 of the plate 38 forms a cam surface that guides the disc downward, and pushes the disc 92 that does not fall down as specified during the forward stroke of the plate 28, thereby moving the disc 92 towards the plate 50. This ensures that it is pushed outward through the opening 60. In this regard, the housing is approximately 30 mm relative to the supporting table.
It is placed at a perfect angle. This helps keep the device in place as the technician pushes the container backwards. This also allows the technician to more clearly view the opening of the container. A spring 94 extending between a rear wall 96 of the housing and a branch 98 secured to the rear of the plate 50 returns the plate 50 to its initial position when the technician removes the rearward force against the plate. The unit is then ready to process accurate disk patterns again by repeating this procedure. If the next time a different procedure is to be performed, the technician simply loosens the locking plate, removes or repositions the various cartridges 16 inserted into the unit, and re-engages the locking plate. , and then proceed with the work. Of course, the engineer may deploy all or fewer cartridges receiving as many tubes as required by each particular operation. Through the above explanation, the above-mentioned objects of the present invention can be effectively achieved.

Although the gist of the present invention is defined by the following claims, it can also be implemented as follows.

(1) having a restriction means fixed to the housing for engaging the second plate, a first position corresponding to a first position of the container and a second position of the former container; 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the second plate is restricted between a second position corresponding to the second position. (2) A spring means is provided inside the housing to be connected to the second plate, and bias pressure is applied to push the second plate to the first position. Equipment listed in scope. (3) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising locking means for locking the cartridge within the tubular opening of the third plate.

(4) said first, second and third plates each have a plurality of apertures, said apertures each having a plurality of discs within a plurality of predetermined areas of the associated container; Apparatus according to the claims, characterized in that it is arranged to receive and dispense.

(5) The cartridge includes an elongated cylindrical member having an open bottom end, a strap extending across the open bottom end, and a strap spaced apart from the bottom end in a direction transverse to the axis of the cartridge. and a pair of extending branches, the locking means having a slot disposed in the second plate for receiving the cartridge strap, the slot being configured to allow the container to The device according to (3) above, characterized in that the device is formed so as to be aligned with the first plate when in the first position.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cam surface fixed to the plate and directed toward the base so as to extend into the opening facing the wiper.

(7) The locking means further comprises four cover plates placed on the third plate and having openings aligned with the tubular opening, the third plate and the cover plate a first position that provides a clear passage between the cover plate aperture and the tubular aperture; characterized in that a portion of the passageway between the opening of the cover plate and the tubular opening is closed so that it can be displaced between a second position in which the branch of said cartridge is captured; The device according to (5) above.

(8) a container and a distributor comprising a sensitive disk and a flat member having a plurality of concave indentations for receiving a supply of inoculum, the distributor comprising: a housing;
a first plate formed in the housing and defining a base for receiving the container, and a first plate parallel to and spaced apart from the base within the housing; an aperture that is offset from the container when the container is placed on the base in the first position, and an opening that is offset from the container when the container is placed on the base in the second position; wiper means is secured to said plate so as to extend into said opening, and said first plate is flush with said area when placed in said opening; There is a second plate movably positioned within the housing interposed therebetween, the opening in the second plate being in contact with the container when the container is placed on the base in the first position. means fixed to said second plate adapted to align and engage portions of said container when said container is placed on said base in said first position; the second plate is adapted to move with the container when the container is displaced to the second position, and a third plate is configured to move with the second plate; Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a plate is provided, the third plate having a tubular opening aligned with the opening in the first plate for supporting the cartridge roll. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device according to the present invention, FIG.
4 are side cross-sectional views taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, respectively, illustrating the state of various parts of the apparatus at various stages of operation of the apparatus. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a part of this device;
The figure is an exploded perspective view of an associated container for use with the disk dispensing device of the present invention. 10...Disc distribution device, 12...Housing, 14...Cover, 16...Cart rich, 17...
Strap, 18...Base, 20...
・Container, 24... Recess, 26... Disc, 38... First plate, 46... Opening,
48... Wiper 50... Second plate, 56... Flange, 58... Rear edge, 60... Opening, 61 ... Grooves, 6
2...Third plate, 70...Tubular opening.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Apparatus for dispensing sensitive discs from a cartridge roll to a container having a predetermined area for receiving the sensitive discs, comprising a housing and a base for receiving said containers. a first plate disposed within the housing parallel to and spaced apart from the base; and an opening in the first plate, the opening being the first plate of the container. offset from the area of the container when placed on the base in a first position and aligned with the area when the container is placed on the base in a second position; further securing a wiper means to the plate so as to extend into the opening, and then providing a second plate interposed between the first plate and the base for movement within the housing; The opening in the second plate is adapted to align with the area of the container when the container is placed on the base in the first position, and the opening in the second plate is adapted to align with the area of the container when the container is placed on the base in the first position. means fixed to the second plate for engaging a portion of the container when placed on the base, so that when the container is displaced to the second position, the second plate a third plate adapted to move with the container and fixed in co-movement with respect to the second plate, the third plate interlocking with the first plate for supporting a cartridge roll; A dispensing device characterized in that it has a tubular opening aligned with the opening of the dispensing device.