Method of rotating a sample container carrier, laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

• US 10,228,384 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Baer, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Siefke, Samuel P
• Application Number:
  US15/278,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20170108522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/244 by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/2445 by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/025 the load being magnetically coupled with a piston-like driver moved within a tube
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0475 electric, e.g. stepper motor, solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0477 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0482 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0489 Self-propelled units
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A method of rotating a sample container carrier on a transport plane of a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The sample container carrier is rotated by using a movement relative to a number of rotator elements. A laboratory sample distribution system being able to perform such a method and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are also presented.

Claims

1. A method of rotating a sample container carrier of a laboratory sample distribution system, wherein the laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers, wherein the sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers, wherein the sample containers comprise samples, at least one rotator element comprising a linear surface, a transport plane, wherein the transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers and the least one rotator element, a driver, wherein the driver is adapted to move the sample container carriers and the at least one rotator element on top of the transport plane, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to control the driver such that the sample container carriers move over the transport plane along predetermined transport paths, the method comprising the steps:

a) moving the sample container carrier and/or the at least one rotator element relative to each other on the transport plane such that the sample container carrier abuts the linear surface; and

b) moving the sample container carrier and/or the rotator element relative to each other on the transport plane such that the linear surface exerts a rotating force on the sample container carrier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample container carrier has a circular horizontal cross section.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b, the rotator element moves on the transport plane relative to the sample container carrier while the sample container carrier is held in a constant position on the transport plane.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in step a, a further rotator element comprising a further linear surface is moved on the transport plane such that the sample container carrier abuts the further linear surface and, in step b, the further rotator element is moved relative to the sample container carrier such that the further linear surface exerts a further rotating force on the sample container carrier, the further rotating force amplifying the rotating force.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the further rotator element is moved antiparallel to the rotator element.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the further rotator element is moved such that the further rotating force has the same magnitude as the rotating force.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b, the sample container carrier moves on the transport plane relative to the rotator element while the rotator element is held in a constant position on or besides the transport plane.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each linear surface is a knurled, toothed or rubber-coated surface.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample container carrier has a knurled, toothed or rubber-coated outer surface abutting the linear surface.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b, the sample container carrier is rotated in a field of view of a barcode reading device until a barcode being located on the sample container or on the sample container carrier is facing towards the barcode reading device.