Method and laboratory system for handling sample tube racks

• US 8,694,153 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Koch, Bruno, Kurmann, Markus, Lustenberger, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Logan, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US13/685,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 700/214
• US Class Current: 700/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/042 moved independently, e.g. by fork manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0422 carried on a linear conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0484 Belt or chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

A method and laboratory system for handling sample tube racks are disclosed. The laboratory system includes a storage section (14) with a plurality of shelves (110) for storing a plurality of storage racks (SR), a disposal unit (18) for disposing sample tubes from the storage racks (SR), a robotic transfer system (510) for loading storage racks (SR) into the storage section (14), for retrieving storage racks (SR) from the storing section (14) and for bringing storage rack to the disposal unit (18) after a given storage time has elapsed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a storage section (14) of a laboratory system, the storage section (14) comprising (a) a plurality of shelves (110) for storing a plurality of sample tube racks, the shelves including a top shelf and a bottom shelf, the top and bottom shelves having a first end and an opposite second end, and (b) a robotic transfer system (510) for loading sample tube racks into the storage section (14) and retrieving sample tube racks from the storing section (14), the method comprising the following steps:

moving the robotic transfer system (510) along the top shelf or the bottom shelf from the first end thereof to the opposite second end thereof;

identifying a plurality of markings defining a plurality of individual storage rack end positions;

measuring a plurality of distances between the individual storage rack end positions defined by such markings; and

storing absolute coordinates of the individual storage rack end positions from the identified markings and measured distances.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage section further comprises a disposal unit (18) for disposing sample tubes from the sample tube racks, and wherein the method further comprises the step of bringing a sample tube rack to the disposal unit (18) after a given storage time of the sample tube rack in the storage section has elapsed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic transfer system further includes a platform (518) for carrying the sample tube rack to be conveyed, wherein the platform (518) is connected with a height adjustment device, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

lowering the platform (518) with the height adjustment device with regard to the level of the top shelf or bottom shelf when a sample tube rack is pulled onto the platform (518) from either the top shelf or bottom shelf; and

raising the platform (518) with regard to level of the top shelf or bottom shelf when a sample tube rack is pushed from the platform (518) onto the top shelf or bottom shelf.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each shelf (110) of the plurality of shelves comprises a plurality of T-pins (112) which are aligned on the shelves (110) so as to form a receiving compartment for a sample tube rack and provide a proper guiding of the sample tube rack when slid onto the shelf (110).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the shelves further comprise a plurality of elevated retaining elements (114) for retaining a fully inserted sample tube rack in its storage position.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposal unit (18) comprises a tilt module (620) and a waste container (640, 642), the tilt module having a rack park position (622) positioned above the waste container (640, 642), and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

tilting with the tilt module (620) a sample tube rack loaded by the robotic transfer system (510) into the rack park position (622) such that sample tubes (S) contained in the sample tube rack fall or slide into the waste container (640, 642).

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of guiding the falling of the sample tubes (S) into the waste container (640,642) with a deflector (650) positioned between the tilt module (620) and the waste container (640, 642).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sensing with a sensor (528) the presence and/or the height of sample tubes (S) in a storage rack (SR).