Susan Rea Amato

US Patent:

50450476, Sep 3, 1991

Filed:

Jul 17, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/380965

Inventors:

Burleigh M. Hutchins - Hopedale MA
Raymond R. Dunlap - Uxbridge MA
Louis Abrahams - Worcester MA
Susan M. Amato - Milford MA

Assignee:

Zymark Corporation - Hopkinton MA

International Classification:

B04B 502

US Classification:

494 17

Abstract:

A centrifuge apparatus including a rotor; a drive coupled to the rotor; an inner ring adapted to pivotally support an annular array of inner containers having open upper ends; an inner coupling coupled between the rotor and the inner ring so as to cause rotation thereof and resultant centrifugal force induced inward pivotal movement of the upper ends into the centrifuge positions; an outer ring adapted to pivotally support an annular array of outer containers having open upper ends and displaced outwardly from the inner array in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the rotor means; an outer coupling coupled between the rotor and the outer ring so as to cause rotation thereof and resultant centrifugal force induced inward pivotal movement of the upper ends of the outer containers into centrifuge positions; and an inner orientation mechanism for preventing movement of the upper ends of the inner containers into their centrifuge positions.