U.S. patent application number 11/814067 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for automatic storing device climatic chamber for laboratory objects.
Invention is credited to Cosmas G. Malin.
Application Number | 20080272674 11/814067 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36021003 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080272674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malin; Cosmas G. |
November 6, 2008 |
Automatic Storing Device Climatic Chamber for Laboratory
Objects
Abstract
A storage device, in particular for a climate controlled
cabinet, is described. The storage device serves to store
laboratory objects, in particular microtiter plates, in shelf racks
(4). It comprises a pickup device (17) for automatically picking up
and depositing laboratory objects from the or into the shelf racks
(4). The shelf racks (4) are arranged such that they can receive
several laboratory objects behind each other. This increases the
storage capacity strongly while only slightly increasing space
requirements, such that the costs per laboratory object drop. The
pickup device (17) can pick up several laboratory objects arranged
behind each other at the same time and bring them to a temporary
storage position. From there a desired laboratory object can be
withdrawn by means of a separating device (30) or an additional
laboratory object can be added to the other laboratory objects.
Then the pickup device can place back the objects into the shelf
rack. This allows, with a simple apparatus, to access each
individual laboratory object as desired.
Inventors: |
Malin; Cosmas G.; (Mauren,
LI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
36021003 |
Appl. No.: |
11/814067 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 12, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH2006/000028 |
371 Date: |
May 7, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 35/028 20130101;
B65G 1/0407 20130101; G01N 2035/0425 20130101; G01N 2035/042
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/209 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 14, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 001 888.2 |
Claims
1. Automatic storage device for laboratory objects, in particular
microtiter plates, with at least one shelf rack arranged along a
storage alleys for receiving the laboratory objects above and
beside each other and a shelf access device, which can be displaced
along the storage alley and which comprises a pickup device
adjustable in height and extendable for receiving and depositing
laboratory objects from the or into the shelf rack, wherein the
shelf rack is designed for receiving several storage objects behind
each other.
3. Storage device of claim 2 wherein the separating device is
displaceable vertically in respect to the temporary storage
position.
4. Storage device of claim 3 wherein the separating device
comprises a gripper, which can be lowered onto the temporary
storage position and by means of which a laboratory object can be
engaged laterally.
5. Storage device of claim 4 wherein the gripper comprises at least
two fingers, which can be moved substantially horizontally in
respect to each other for laterally engaging the laboratory object
and/or a cover resting on the laboratory object.
6. Storage device of any claim 2, wherein it is designed to
withdraw an individual laboratory object from the shelf racks by
picking up several laboratory objects arranged behind each other by
means of the pickup device, extracting a selected laboratory object
from the pickup device by means of the separating device, putting
back the remaining laboratory objects by means of the pickup device
into the shelf racks, and moving the selected laboratory object
from the separating device onto the pickup device.
7. Storage device of any of claim 2, wherein it is designed to
deposit an individual laboratory object from the pickup device into
the shelf racks by removing the individual laboratory object from
the pickup device by means of the separating device, withdrawing
several laboratory objects arranged behind each other from the
shelf racks by means of the pickup device, moving the individual
laboratory object from the separating device to the remaining
laboratory objects on the pickup device, and moving all laboratory
objects from the pickup device into the shelf racks.
8. Storage device of claim 2 wherein each laboratory object picked
up by the pickup device can be brought into an operating range of
the separating device by horizontal displacement of the pickup
device.
9. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the pickup device is pivotal
about a vertical axis between at least one exchange position and at
least one transfer position, wherein the pickup device is
extendable in the exchange position towards the at least one shelf
rack and in the transfer position parallel to the storage
alley.
10. Storage device of claim 4, wherein the pickup device is pivotal
about a vertical axis between at least one exchange position and at
least one transfer position, wherein the pickup device is
extendable in the exchange position towards the at least one shelf
rack and in the transfer position parallel to the storage alley,
and wherein the laboratory objects on the pickup device can be
brought into an operating range of the separating device when the
pickup device is in the transfer position.
11. Storage device of claim 1 with a horizontal guide a vertical
guide guided on the horizontal guide, wherein the pickup device is
guided on the vertical guide, a longitudinal drive for displacing
the vertical guide along the horizontal guide and a vertical drive
for displacing the pickup device along the vertical guide.
12. Storage device of claim 11 with a pivotal drive for pivoting
the pickup device in respect to the vertical guide.
13. Storage device of claim 11 wherein the vertical guide extends
downwards from the horizontal guide.
14. Storage device of claim 11, wherein the pickup device is
designed to simultaneously pick up several laboratory objects
arranged behind each other and to bring them into a temporary
storage position, and wherein the shelf access device comprises a
separating device for withdrawing a laboratory object from the
temporary storage position and/or inserting it into the temporary
storage position, and wherein the separating device is pivotal
together with the pickup device.
15. Storage device of claim 1 wherein the shelf racks comprise
storage positions for receiving several laboratory objects behind
each other, wherein each storage position comprises two supports
extending parallel to each other and at the same height, onto which
opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects in the storage
position can be placed directly, and wherein the pickup device can
be inserted into a gap between the supports for directly engaging
all laboratory objects of the storage position from below.
16. Storage device of claim 15, wherein the pickup device comprises
an extendable carrier, whose width is smaller than the distance
between the supports of the storage position.
17. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the shelf racks comprise
storage positions with several storage locations behind each other,
wherein each storage location is designed for receiving one
laboratory object, and holder means, by means of which the
respective storage object can be held in a longitudinal direction
of the storage position.
18. Storage device of claim 17 wherein the projections are formed
by upwards bent parts of the supports.
19. Storage device of claim 1, wherein at one end of the storage
alley a transfer station is arranged for temporarily receiving
individual laboratory objects during a transfer between the pickup
device and an external transport system.
20. Storage device of claim 1, wherein shelf racks are arranged on
both sides of the storage alley.
21. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the shelf racks are formed
by storage racks, wherein each storage rack comprises several
storage positions arranged above each other, wherein each storage
position offers room for several laboratory objects behind each
other, and wherein each storage rack can be withdrawn, with the
laboratory objects arranged therein, as a whole from the storage
device.
22. Storage device of claim 21, wherein each storage rack comprises
exactly one vertical row of the storage positions.
23. Climate controlled cabinet with a storage device of claim
1.
24. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 23, wherein the cabinet
comprises a first door for an automatic transfer of laboratory
objects as well as a second door for users.
25. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 24, wherein the first door
is arranged in a first wall at the end of the storage alley and the
second door is arranged in a second wall parallel to the storage
alley at an end of the second wall opposite to the first wall.
26. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 24, wherein the second door
is arranged in a wall extending transversally to the storage
alley.
27. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 26, wherein the first door
is arranged in the second door.
28. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 25, wherein the second door
can be opened inwards.
29. The storage device of claim 17 wherein each storage position
comprises two supports extending parallel to each other at the same
height, onto which opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects
in the storage position can be rested, and wherein the holder means
are formed by projections, which extend upwards from the supports.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of the German patent
application 10 2005 001 888, which was filed on 14 Jan. 2005 and
whose complete disclosure is herewith incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an automatic storage device
and a climate controlled cabinet for receiving laboratory objects,
in particular microtiter-plates.
[0003] In modern research large amounts of samples have to be
tested, manipulated and stored. The samples are often stored in
so-called microtiter-plates, which comprise a plurality of fine
receiving recesses for the samples. Microtiter-plates have, as
rule, a standardised size with a footprint of approximately 127.76
millimetres.times.85.48 millimetres (each +/-0.5 millimetres)
according to standard ANSI/SBS 1-2004, Jan., 8, 2004, "for
microplates--Footprint Dimensions", and a plurality of devices have
been provided for storing such plates or similar laboratory
objects, such as so-called laboratory flasks.
[0004] EP 1 332 987 describes a storage device with a storage alley
with two shelf racks arranged along the storage alley and a shelf
access device displaceable along the storage alley. The shelf
access device comprises a pickup device that is adjustable in
height and extendible, by means of which laboratory objects stored
in the shelf racks can be picked up. Such an apparatus is costly in
production and operation.
PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object to improve the cost efficiency of
such a device.
[0006] This object is achieved by the storage device of claim
1.
[0007] According to the claims the shelf rack or shelf racks are
designed such that they can receive several laboratory objects
behind each other. By means of this, the storage capacity is
increased strongly while the space requirements are increased only
slightly, such that the costs per laboratory object are
decreased.
[0008] Preferably the pickup device is designed such that it is
able to simultaneously pick up several laboratory objects arranged
behind each other and to bring them into a temporary storage
position. From there a desired laboratory object can be extracted
by a separating device or an additional laboratory object can be
added to the other laboratory objects. Then the pickup device can
put the objects back into the shelf rack. This allows, with a
simple apparatus, to access each individual laboratory object as
desired. The separating device can, alternatively or in addition,
also be used to remove a cover resting on a laboratory object or to
place such a cover onto the laboratory object. This is in
particular advantageous when using microtiter-plates with
covers.
[0009] In an especially simple system the shelf racks comprise
storage positions for receiving several storage objects behind each
other. Each storage position comprises two supports arranged
parallel to each other and at the same height, for receiving
opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects directly. The
pickup device can be inserted into the gap between the supports and
lift all laboratory objects in the storage position simultaneously
from below (or deposit them). This solution obviates the need to
provide a drawer or such for the laboratory objects.
[0010] The invention also relates to a climate controlled cabinet
with such a storage device.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the
invention are given in the dependent claims and in the now
following description referring to the figures. These show
[0012] FIG. 1 a view of a climate controlled cabinet with the
storage device according to the invention,
[0013] FIG. 2 a schematic, horizontal sectional view of the climate
controlled cabinet of FIG. 1,
[0014] FIG. 3 an embodiment of the storage device, wherein only
four of the storage racks are shown,
[0015] FIG. 4 a detailed view of the pickup device,
[0016] FIG. 5 a part of a storage rack,
[0017] FIG. 6 a view of a transparently drawn storage rack,
[0018] FIG. 7 an enlarged view of a transparently shown storage
rack and
[0019] FIG. 8 a second embodiment of the pickup device.
WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] The climate controlled cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a
housing 1, in whose interior space a control unit 3 with control
and climate generator and a storage device are arranged. The
storage device comprises two shelf racks 4, which are arranged on
both sides of a storage alley 5. A shelf access device 6 is running
in the storage alley 5, by means of which all laboratory objects in
the shelf racks 4 can be accessed automatically.
[0021] At one end of the climate controlled cabinet, in the
extension of the storage alley 5, a transfer station 7 is arranged.
It serves to temporarily receive individual laboratory objects
during transfer between the pickup device 17 of the shelf access
device 6 and an outer transport system. The transfer station 7
consists e.g. of a support table mounted to a wall 10a of the
climate controlled cabinet for receiving the storage objects and is
arranged at an automatic door 8 in the wall 10a of the storage
cabinet. The size of the automatic door 8 corresponds approximately
to the size of the laboratory objects to be transported, such that
losses in climate while opening the door 8 can remain small.
[0022] The automatic door 8 can also be arranged in the wall 10c
opposite to wall 10a.
[0023] At the end of the storage cabinet opposite to the automatic
door 8, in a second wall 10b parallel to the storage alley 5, a
further access door 11 is provided. By means of this door, which
opens outwardly, the user can gain access to the climate controlled
cabinet. The door leads to a antechamber 13, which is formed
between the shelf racks 4 and the third wall 10c opposite to the
shelf racks 4. The control unit 3 is arranged in this antechamber
13.
[0024] In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the access door 11 is arranged
in the second wall 10b. Alternatively or in addition thereto the
door can also be arranged in a wall extending transversely to the
storage alley 5, i.e. in the first wall 10a or in the third wall
10c opposite to first wall 10a, advantageously in the extension of
the storage alley 5, as it is shown in dashed lines with reference
numbers 11' and 11'' in FIG. 2. If the access door is arranged in
position 11'' in the first wall 10a, the automatic door 8 is
advantageously arranged in the access door.
[0025] The design of the storage device can best be seen from FIGS.
3 and 4. As mentioned, it has two shelf racks 4 along the storage
alley 5. The shelf access device 6 comprises a horizontal guide 15
in the shape of a horizontal profile track, which is arranged
parallel to the storage alley 5 in the roof section of the climate
controlled cabinet. A vertical guide 16 in the shape of a vertical
profile track is guided on the horizontal guide 15. The vertical
guide 16 is arranged on the horizontal guide 15 and extends
downwards from the same. Optionally, a further horizontal auxiliary
guide can be provided at the bottom end of the vertical guide 16. A
pickup device 17 is mounted to the vertical guide 16.
[0026] A horizontal drive 18 mounted to the upper end of the
vertical guide 16 serves to move the vertical guide 16 along the
horizontal guide 15 and drives a gear, which engages a cograil 19
in the horizontal guide 15. A vertical drive 20 (rear part 23 in
FIG. 4 hidden) connected to the pickup device 17 serves to move the
pickup device 17 along the vertical guide 16 and drives a gear that
engages a cograil 21 in the vertical guide 16.
[0027] A vertical column 23 is provided for holding the pickup
device 17 and is connected at its bottom end to a horizontal
holding arm 24. An elongate table 25 is mounted to the end of the
holding arm 24 opposite to column 23. The table 25 can be pivoted
in respect to the holding arm 24 about a vertical axis A. As can be
seen from FIG. 2, the axis A is approximately in the centre of the
storage alley. A pivoting drive 27 serves to pivot the table 25 in
respect to the holding arm 24 (and therefore in respect to the
vertical guide 16) about the axis A.
[0028] An elongate carrier 26 is arranged on the table 25 and
displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the table. An extension
drive 28 is provided on the table 25 for moving the carrier 26.
Table 25 and carrier 26 form, together, the pickup device 17, which
is pivotal about axis A and extendable along an extension direction
X.
[0029] Furthermore, a separating device 30 is arranged on the
column 23. The separating device 30 can be displaced vertically
along column 23 by means of a first separating drive 31. It
comprises a gripper 32 for laterally gripping the laboratory
object. The gripper 32 comprises at least two, preferably four,
fingers 33a-33d extending downwards, which can be horizontally
moved against each other by means of a second separating drive
34.
[0030] The separating device 30 is arranged, as seen along the
storage alley 5, either in front of or behind the pivoting axis
A.
[0031] The pickup device 17 can be pivoted, by means of the pivotal
drive 28, into three positions. In a transfer position, which is
shown in FIG. 3, it can be extended parallel to the storage alley
5. In this position the slightly extended carrier 26 is below the
separating device 30. Depending on how far the carrier 26 is
horizontally extended, each of the laboratory objects 40 on the
carrier 26 can be brought into the operating range of the
separating device 30. The separating device can be lowered
vertically onto such a laboratory object 40, such that it can
laterally engage the laboratory object 40 with the grippers 32 and
lift it. Also it can deposit, in this manner, a laboratory object
onto a free space on the carrier 26.
[0032] In the transfer position the pickup device 17 can also
transfer laboratory objects and/or covers through the door 8 to the
transfer station 7 or pick them up from the same.
[0033] Starting from the transfer position the pickup device 17
can, as shown by a double arrow in FIG. 2, be pivoted to the left
or to the right, in each direction by about 90.degree., into an
exchange position, in each of which it can be extended towards one
of the shelf racks 4. FIG. 4 shows the pickup device 17 in the
exchange position. In this position the pickup device 17 can
deposit laboratory objects on the shelf racks 4 or receive them
from the same in the manner described below.
[0034] A second embodiment of the pickup device 17 is shown in FIG.
8. It differs from the first embodiment by the fact that the
separating device 30 is not stationery with respect to the holding
arm 24, but stationary in respect to table 25, i.e. it can be
pivoted together with the table 25. For this purpose a column 35
with a vertical cograil 35a is arranged on the table 25. The gear
of the vertically displaceable first separating drive 31 engages
the cograil 35a. A carrier arm 36 is mounted on the first
separating drive 31 and carries the gripper 32. The gripper 32 is
designed in substantially the same manner as the gripper of the
first embodiment.
[0035] The method of operation of the embodiment of FIG. 8
substantially corresponds to the of to FIG. 4, since the gripper 32
can be lowered from above onto the carrier 26 for receiving
therefrom a laboratory object or a cover or for depositing it
there. Since the separating device 30 can be pivoted together with
the table 25, the embodiment of FIG. 8 has, however, the advantage
that the separating device 30 can access the laboratory objects on
the carrier 26 in each pivotal position, which allows a quicker
processing of orders.
[0036] The design of the shelf racks 4 is best seen in FIG. 3. Each
shelf rack comprises a frame 39 with, in the present embodiment,
three shelves 41. The horizontal guide 15 is mounted to the topmost
shelf 41 of one of the shelf racks. The two bottommost shelves 41
of each shelf rack 4 receive storage racks 42, only four of which
are shown in FIG. 3. Each storage rack 42 has two vertical lateral
walls 43, which are connected to each other at their top and bottom
edges by means of horizontal plates 44.
[0037] A part of a storage rack 42 is shown in FIG. 5. As can be
seen therefrom, inwards extending ribs are provided on the lateral
walls 43 at regular intervals, which form supports 45 for the
laboratory objects 40 to be received. Each laboratory object 40 is
inserted into the storage rack 42 in such a manner that opposite
lower edge regions of the laboratory object are each supported by
one support or rib 45. Thus, each storage rack 42 has a vertical
row of storage positions 47 defined by the ribs 45. The depth of
the storage rack 42 is such that in each storage position 47
several laboratory objects find room behind each other. The width
and height of the storage positions 47 is adapted to the dimensions
of the respective laboratory objects to be received.
[0038] The storage racks 42 are self-supporting units, and each
storage rack can, with any laboratory object stored therein, be
withdrawn as a whole from the storage device or climate controlled
cabinet.
[0039] A gap 46 is provided between the opposite supports or ribs
45, which is broader than the extendable carrier 26. The bottom
side of the laboratory objects 40 can be freely accessed in the
region of this gap 46. To pick up the laboratory objects, the
pickup device or the carrier 26 can be extended into the gap
46.
[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a specific embodiment of a storage rack
42. FIG. 6 in particular shows three laboratory objects 40 or
microtiter-plates arranged behind each other, which rest on three
storage locations behind each other on the supports or ribs 45. In
order to hold laboratory objects 40 in longitudinal direction of
the storage position 47 in defined manner and to prevent them from
shifting, each storage location comprises holding means 50, by
means of which the respective laboratory object can be held in
longitudinal direction of the storage position 47. The holding
means 50 are formed, in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, by
projections, which extend upwards from the supports 45. The
projections are upwardly bent tongues of the sheet metal support
45.
[0041] The function of the described device is as follows:
[0042] In order to withdraw a given laboratory object from a known
position in the shelf racks 4 of the storage device, the pickup
device 17 is pivoted into the exchange position and horizontally
and vertically displaced in such a manner that it is located in
front of the storage position 47 of the given laboratory object,
namely such that the upper side of the carrier 26 is somewhat lower
than the bottom side of the laboratory object. Then, the carrier 26
is extended into the shelf rack 4 and lifted, by means of the
vertical drive 20, until it enters the gap 46 and lifts all of the
laboratory objects arranged behind each other on the ribs 45 of the
respective storage position 47. Now the carrier 26 is again
retracted and the pickup device 17 is pivoted into the transfer
position. In this intermediate storage position the carrier 26 is
extended so far that the laboratory object 40 to be withdrawn comes
to lie exactly below the separating device 30. Now the separating
device 30 is lowered, engages the laboratory object 40 and lifts
the same. After having removed the desired laboratory object 40 in
this manner from the pickup device 17, the pickup device 17 is
pivoted back to the exchange position, extended into the shelf rack
and lowered somewhat, such that the remaining laboratory objects
are again deposited in their storage position 47. The now empty
carrier 26 is retracted, pivoted into the transfer position and
extended so far that its end region lies below the separating
device 30. The separating device is again lowered and releases the
previously withdrawn laboratory object 40 onto the carrier 26. Now
the pickup device 17 can be driven to the door 8. The door 8 is
opened and the carrier 26 is extended and lowered such that it
deposits the laboratory object in the transfer position 7.
[0043] To deposit an individual laboratory object 40 at a given
position in the shelf racks 4, the reverse process is used. The
pickup device 17 drives to the door 8, the carrier 26 is extended
and lifts the laboratory object 40 furnished at the transfer
position 7. The carrier 26 is retracted. The laboratory object 40
is brought into the region of access of the separating device 30,
which removes it from carrier 26. The pickup device 17 is driven to
the desired storage position 47 and pivoted to the exchange
position. The carrier 26 extends, lifts the laboratory objects
already present in the storage position 47, retracts and pivots to
the transfer position. It is extended horizontally so far that a
free space of the table comes to rest below the separating device
30, whereupon the separating device 30 deposits the new laboratory
object there. Then all laboratory objects on the carrier 26 are
placed back into the shelf rack, for which purpose the carrier 26
pivots back into the exchange position, extends, is lowered, and
deposits the laboratory objects 40 on the supports or ribs 45. Then
the carrier 26 is again retracted.
[0044] In order to reach a higher transfer capacity, it is also
possible to handle several laboratory objects 40 at the same time
on table 25. For example the carrier 26 can withdraw three
laboratory objects behind each other from a shelf rack position and
bring them, together, to the transfer position 7, where the
laboratory objects are taken over or handled together. In opposite
manner several storage objects can be brought from the transfer
position 7 in a single working step, together, to a storage
position and deposited there behind each other.
[0045] It is further possible, that the separating device 30 is
able to temporarily store several laboratory objects at the same
time. For example, it can pick up several laboratory objects, which
are then received by the transfer position 7. For this purpose the
transfer position must be provided by means for directly receiving
the laboratory objects from the separating device 30.
[0046] The device shown here can be adapted in various manner to
the respective requirements.
[0047] For example, a single shelf rack arranged along the storage
alley 5 can be used instead of two shelf racks 4.
[0048] If different types of laboratory objects are to be stored,
different storage racks with correspondingly sized storage
positions can be provided.
[0049] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described
in the present application, it is to be distinctly pointed out that
the invention is not limited thereto and can also be carried out in
different manner within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *