Automation maintenance carrier auto-loader

• US 9,470,702 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pollack, Benjamin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CICCHINO, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US14/434,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/16 for conveyors having endless load-carriers movable in curved paths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00851 process control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0467 Switching points ("aiguillages")
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0493 Locating samples; identifying different tube sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00623 of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

Devices and systems are provided for automatically deploying maintenance carriers to an automation track. These maintenance carriers can include tools appropriate for providing a maintenance operation, such as cleaning a track, aligning a pipette, and inspecting portions of the automation system. An auto-loader can be provided to selectively deploy and/or retrieve maintenance carriers and provide recharging, refilling, or disposal of carriers or cartridges used by the maintenance carriers.

Claims

1. An automation system comprising:

a track;

a plurality of maintenance carriers; and

an auto-loader for selectively deploying one or more or the plurality of maintenance carriers on the track,

wherein the auto-loader selects a maintenance carrier in response to a detected condition of the track.

2. The automation system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sample carriers that traverse the track.

3. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the auto-loader comprises a robot arm.

4. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of maintenance carriers comprises a plurality of types of maintenance carriers.

5. The automation system of claim 1, further comprising a storage rack that stores the plurality of maintenance carriers.

6. The automation system of claim 5, wherein the storage rack is configured to recharge the plurality of maintenance carriers.

7. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the auto-loader is configured to install a maintenance cartridge in one or more of the plurality of maintenance carriers.

8. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the auto-loader is configured to replenish a fluid in one or more of the plurality of maintenance carriers.

9. A method for performing maintenance to an analyzer comprising the steps of:

determining a maintenance operation to perform;

automatically selecting a maintenance carrier to perform the maintenance operation;

under the control of a processor, automatically deploying the maintenance carrier onto a track;

performing the maintenance operation using the maintenance carrier;

returning the maintenance carrier to a storage or waste location;

determining a status of a fluid in the maintenance carrier; and

replacing a maintenance cartridge in the maintenance carrier if the fluid level is low.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining a maintenance operation to perform occurs in response to an explicit request by an operator.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining a maintenance operation to perform occurs in response to detecting an error.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining a maintenance operation to perform occurs at a prescheduled time.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising refilling the fluid in the maintenance carrier if the fluid level is low.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of recharging the maintenance carrier when it is in the storage location.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring at least one status of the maintenance carrier and reporting that status to an operator.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the maintenance carrier is selected from a plurality of maintenance carriers in the storage location.

17. An auto-loader for use with an automation system comprising:

a storage area configured to hold a plurality of maintenance carriers; and

a robot arm configured to selectively load and unload at least one of the plurality of maintenance carriers with respect to at least one automation track, wherein the robot arm is further configured to move the at least one of the plurality of maintenance carriers responsive to a processor in communication with an analyzer,

wherein the storage area is configured to recharge at least one of the maintenance carriers.

18. The auto-loader of claim 17, wherein the storage area is configured to install a maintenance cartridge in one or more of the plurality of maintenance carriers.