Partitioning device
US5649576A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2001/282
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system which precisely arrays small objects into a plurality of containers which comprises a vessel containing the objects in a fluid suspension; a tube, the proximal end of which is positioned substantially at the bottom of the vessel and the distal end of which is connected to a member which directs gravitationally-formed fluid drops from the distal end downward into a container positioned below said distal end; a small-objects detector, for detecting the objects in the fluid in the tube, disposed near the distal end; a drop detector connected to the member below the distal end; a device for controlling flow of the suspension through the tube by pressurizing the vessel; or device for discriminating between those signals from the small-objects detector caused by the small objects and those signals caused by other events, i.e., not caused by the small objects; a device for comparing signals from the small-objects detector caused by the small objects with signals from the drop detector; and a device for determining the number of the objects deposited into the container. The system further comprises a positioning device for re-positioning the distal end of the tube from one to anot…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.