Sample container carrier, laboratory sample distribution system and laboratory automation system

• US 10,564,170 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schneider, Hans, Riether, Christian, Malinowski, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US15/860,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20180128848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 73 6456, 73863, 7386301, 7386391, 7386421-86425, 7386431, 7386481, 7386491, 422 63- 65, 422 67, 422501, 422547, 422560-562
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0261 Puck as article support
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0477 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0489 Self-propelled units
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A sample container carrier for a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The sample container carrier comprises a magnetic element that is arranged such that a magnetic move force applied to the sample container carrier depends on an angularity. A laboratory sample distribution system comprising such a sample container carrier and a laboratory automation system comprising such a sample distribution system are also presented.

Claims

1. A laboratory sample distribution system, the laboratory sample distribution system comprising:

a number of sample container carriers, wherein the sample container carrier is configured to carry one or more sample containers, wherein the sample container carrier is configured to be moved over a horizontal transport plane of the laboratory sample distribution system, and wherein the sample container carrier comprises a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is configured to interact with a magnetic field generated by the laboratory sample distribution system such that a magnetic move force is applied to the sample container carrier and wherein the magnetic element is arranged such that the magnetic move force depends on an angularity of the sample container carrier placed on the transport plane;

a transport plane configured to support the sample container carriers;

a number of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, the electro-magnetic actuators configured to generate a magnetic field to move the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane; and

a control device configured to control the movement of the sample container carriers on top of the transport plane by driving the electro-magnetic actuators such that the sample container carriers move along corresponding transport paths.

2. The sample container carrier according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a magnetically active device and wherein the magnetically active device has a horizontal cross section of a regular polygon.

3. The sample container carrier according to claim 2, wherein the magnetically active device is a permanent magnet.

4. The sample container carrier according to claim 2, wherein the regular polygon is a square.

5. The sample container carrier according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic element comprises a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic guiding device.

6. The sample container carrier according to claim 5, wherein the guiding device is formed as a cover covering the magnetically active device at least partially.

7. The sample container carrier according to claim 6, wherein the guiding device has a horizontal cross section comprising a number of sectors and wherein the sectors are distant from each other and are each originating at a common central part of the guiding device.

8. The sample container carrier according to claim 7, wherein the number of sectors are embodied as arms.

9. The sample container carrier according to claim 7, wherein the sectors are arranged to form a cross.

10. The sample container carrier according to claim 1, further comprises

a sliding member, wherein the sliding member is configured to be in contact with the transport plane if the sample container carrier is placed on the transport plane.

11. The sample container carrier according to claim 10, wherein the sliding member has a horizontal cross section comprising a number of arms extending from a central part and wherein the sliding member has a concave horizontal cross section between the arms.

12. The sample container carrier according to claim 10, wherein the sliding member comprises a number of lower edges, the lower edges surrounding a portion of the sliding member configured to be in contact with the transport plane and wherein the lower edges are at least partially bevelled.

13. The sample container carrier according to one of claims 10, wherein the sliding member has a centrally located recess in which the sliding member is not in contact with the transport plane, the recess being surrounded by a portion of the sliding member configured to be in contact with the transport plane.

14. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the electro-magnetic actuators have a horizontal cross section of a regular polygon.

15. The laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 14, wherein the electro-magnetic actuators are respective magnetic coils.

16. A laboratory automation system, the laboratory automation system comprising:

a number of laboratory stations; and

a laboratory sample distribution system according to claim 1 adapted to distribute sample container carriers and/or sample containers between the laboratory stations.

17. The laboratory automation system according to claim 16, wherein the number of laboratory stations are in the form of pre-analytical stations, analytical stations and/or post-analytical stations.