Automated Filter Changer

Abstract

An automatic filter changer that automatically inserts and removes a filter from a fluidic path. Filters are introduced into the automatic filter changer in stacks. The lead filter and each stack is removed from its respective stack one by one by a filter separator. The separated filters are deposited onto a shuttle plate which moves the filters into their respective fluidic paths. Fluid couplers connect to each filter to complete their respective fluidic paths and allow fluids to be filtered before sampling. Once collection of the samples is complete, the filters are removed from the fluidic path and discarded or saved for reuse. The shuttle path is returned to its original position to receive new filters to repeat the process again. A graphic user interface is provided to allow the user to program a specific set of instructions to automate the entire process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic filter changer, comprising:
 a. housing;   b. a filter stack block attached to the housing, the filter stack block comprising a plurality of holes linearly arranged to receive a plurality of filter stacks, wherein each hole is configured to receive one filter stack;   c. a filter separator positioned below the filter stack block, the filter separator configured to separate one filter at a time from each filter stack away from its respective filter stack sequentially so that a first filter from a first filter stack is separated before a first filter of a second filter stack;   d. a shuttle plate positioned below the filter separator to catch a released filter, wherein a motor is operatively connected to the shuttle plate to move the shuttle plate in a horizontal direction to carry a set of released filters to a fluid coupler; and   e. a centering plate assembly positioned to trap the released filter against the shuttle plate in alignment with the fluid coupler,   f. wherein the shuttle plate comprises a plurality of slots defined by slot arm pairs, and the fluid coupler comprises a plurality of upper fluid couplings and a plurality of lower fluid couplings, each upper fluid coupling aligned with a respective lower fluid coupling to define a plurality of vertical axes, each slot configured to align with a respective filter stack when the shuttle plate is in a first position, and each slot configured to align with a respective vertical axis when the shuttle plate is in a second position, the shuttle plate positionable in a third position offset from the filter stacks and away from the center plates to allow the released filter to drop below the shuttle plate, the shuttle plate further comprising an alignment bar configured to abut against the centering plate assembly when the filter is not properly seated on the shuttle plate, the slot arms within a slot arm pair converging toward each other at an opening of the slot, and   g. wherein the filter separator comprises a pair of rollers each roller defining a longitudinal axis, the pair of rollers arranged parallel to each other and separated from each other such that the longitudinal axes of each roller is separated by a gap, each roller configured to rotate in opposite directions about its respective longitudinal axis, each roller comprising a plurality of indentations, each indentation on a first roller corresponding with an indentation on a second roller to form a plurality of matching indentation pairs such that the corresponding indentations of each matching indentation pairs face each other in the gap during rotation, each indentation on the first roller angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the first roller from every other indentation on the first roller, and each indentation on the second roller angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the second roller from every other indentation on the second roller.   
     
     
         2 . An automatic filter changer, comprising:
 a. housing;   b. a filter stack block attached to the housing, the filter stack block comprising a plurality of holes linearly arranged to receive a plurality of filter stacks, wherein each hole is configured to receive one filter stack;   c. a filter separator positioned below the filter stack block, the filter separator configured to separate one filter at a time from each filter stack away from its respective filter stack sequentially so that a first filter from a first filter stack is separated before a first filter of a second filter stack;   d. a shuttle plate positioned below the filter separator to catch a released filter, wherein the shuttle plate is movable in a horizontal direction to carry a set of released filters to a fluid coupler;   e. a centering plate assembly positioned to trap the released filter against the shuttle plate in alignment with the fluid coupler.   
     
     
         3 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 2 , wherein the filter separator comprises a pair of rollers each roller defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the pair of rollers is arranged parallel to each other and separated from each other such that the longitudinal axes of each roller is separated by a gap. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 3 , wherein each roller is configured to rotate in opposite directions about its respective longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 4 , wherein each roller comprises a plurality of indentations, wherein each indentation on a first roller corresponds with an indentation on a second roller to form a plurality of matching indentation pairs such that the corresponding indentations of each matching indentation pairs face each other in the gap during rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The filter changer of  claim 5 , wherein each indentation on the first roller is angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the first roller from every other indentation on the first roller, and each indentation on the second roller is angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the second roller from every other indentation on the second roller. 
     
     
         7 . The filter changer of  claim 2 , wherein the shuttle plate comprises a plurality of slots defined by slot arm pairs, wherein the fluid coupler comprises a plurality of upper fluid couplings and a plurality of lower fluid couplings, each upper fluid coupling aligned with a respective lower fluid coupling to define a plurality of vertical axes, each slot configured to align with a respective filter stack when the shuttle plate is in a first position, and each slot configured to align with a respective vertical axis when the shuttle plate is in a second position. 
     
     
         8 . The filter changer of  claim 7 , wherein the shuttle plate is positionable in a third position offset from the filter stacks and away from the center plates to allow the released filter to drop below the shuttle plate. 
     
     
         9 . The filter changer of  claim 8 , wherein the shuttle plate further comprises an alignment bar configured to abut against the centering plate assembly when the released filter is not properly seated on the shuttle plate. 
     
     
         10 . The filter changer of  claim 9 , wherein slot arms within a slot arm pair converge toward each other at an opening of the slot. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic filter changer, comprising:
 a. housing;   b. a filter stack block attached to the housing, the filter stack block comprising a plurality of holes to receive a plurality of filter stacks, wherein each hole is configured to receive one filter stack;   c. a filter separator positioned below the filter stack block, the filter separator configured to separate one filter at a time from each filter stack away from its respective filter stack sequentially so that a first filter from a first filter stack is separated before a first filter of a second filter stack;   d. a shuttle plate positioned below the filter separator to catch a released filter, wherein a motor is operatively connected to the shuttle plate to move the shuttle plate in a horizontal direction to carry a set of released filters to a fluid coupler,   e. a centering plate assembly positioned to trap the released filter against the shuttle plate in alignment with the fluid coupler.   
     
     
         12 . The filter changer of  claim 11 , wherein the shuttle plate comprises a plurality of slots defined by slot arm pairs, wherein the fluid coupler comprises a plurality of upper fluid couplings and a plurality of lower fluid couplings, each upper fluid coupling aligned with a respective lower fluid coupling to define a plurality of vertical axes, each slot configured to align with a respective filter stack when the shuttle plate is in a first position, and each slot configured to align with a respective vertical axis when the shuttle plate is in a second position. 
     
     
         13 . The filter changer of  claim 12 , wherein the shuttle plate is positionable in a third position offset from the filter stacks and away from the center plates to allow the released filter to drop below the shuttle plate. 
     
     
         14 . The filter changer of  claim 13 , wherein the shuttle plate further comprises an alignment bar configured to abut against the centering plate assembly when the released filter is not properly seated on the shuttle plate. 
     
     
         15 . The filter changer of  claim 14 , wherein slot arms within a slot arm pair converge toward each other at an opening of the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 11 , wherein the filter separator comprises a pair of rollers each roller defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the pair of rollers is arranged parallel to each other and separated from each other such that the longitudinal axes of each roller is separated by a gap. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 16 , wherein each roller is configured to rotate in opposite directions about its respective longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic filter changer of  claim 17 , wherein each roller comprises a plurality of indentations, wherein each indentation on a first roller corresponds with an indentation on a second roller to form a plurality of matching indentation pairs such that the corresponding indentations of each matching indentation pairs face each other in the gap during rotation. 
     
     
         19 . The filter changer of  claim 18 , wherein each indentation on the first roller is angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the first roller from every other indentation on the first roller, and each indentation on the second roller is angularly offset about the longitudinal axis of the second roller from every other indentation on the second roller. 
     
     
         20 . The filter changer of  claim 11 , wherein the shuttle plate further comprises an alignment bar configured to abut against the centering plate assembly when the released filter is not properly seated on the shuttle plate.