Automated storage and retrieval apparatus for freezers and related method thereof
First Claim
1. An automated storage and retrieval apparatus for storing containers at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
- a freezer compartment, said freezer compartment having a side wall;
a storage carousel disposed inside said freezer compartment for holding the containers;
a climate-controlled chamber disposed on said side wall;
a climate system for controlling the climate of said chamber;
an interchange mechanism configured to;
interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said climate-controlled chamber while in a chamber exchange position, and interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said carousel while in a carousel exchange position; and
said chamber being configured to;
isolate the container from said interchange mechanism as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolate the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber and said interchange mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated cold storage apparatus, and related method thereof, provides a sample process management system that is a revolutionary approach to the storage and retrieval regarding critical samples. The system—a significant technological breakthrough in laboratory automation—is the first ultra low temperature robotic system capable of being validated. Samples in containers are stored and retrieved robotically through an airlock climate-control chamber that is automatically dehumidified by a dry gas purge, such as a carbon dioxide or nitrogen purge or the like. This purge rapidly reduces ambient humidity to a desirable relative humidity (RH), e.g., less than about 15% RH, virtually eliminating the accumulation of frost. Microplates are systematically identified using barcode technology, for example. Once through the climate-controlled chamber, the containers (i.e., samples) are robotically transferred to the rotary mechanism. This mechanism transports the containers to a derived nest location upon the storage means, such as a carousel or to one of the stationary addresses.
36 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An automated storage and retrieval apparatus for storing containers at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer compartment, said freezer compartment having a side wall;
a storage carousel disposed inside said freezer compartment for holding the containers;
a climate-controlled chamber disposed on said side wall;
a climate system for controlling the climate of said chamber;
an interchange mechanism configured to;
interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said climate-controlled chamber while in a chamber exchange position, and interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said carousel while in a carousel exchange position; and
said chamber being configured to;
isolate the container from said interchange mechanism as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolate the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber and said interchange mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An automated storage and retrieval apparatus for storing containers at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer means for freezing the containers;
a storage means disposed inside said freezer means for holding the containers;
a chamber means for interchanging the containers between the exterior and said freezer means;
a climate system control means for controlling the climate of said chamber means;
an interchange means for;
interchanging a container between said interchange means and said chamber means while in a chamber exchange position, and interchanging a container between said interchange means and said storage means while in a storage exchange position; and
said chamber means for;
isolating the container from said interchange means as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolating the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber means and said interchange means.
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28. An automated storage and retrieval apparatus for storing containers at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer compartment, said freezer compartment having a side wall;
a storage device disposed inside said freezer compartment for holding the containers;
a climate-controlled chamber disposed on said side wall;
a climate system for controlling the climate of said chamber;
an interchange mechanism configured to;
interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said climate-controlled chamber while in a chamber exchange position, and interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said storage device while in a device exchange position; and
said chamber being configured to;
isolate the container from said interchange mechanism as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolate the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber and said interchange mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for automatically depositing and storing containers in a freezer compartment at ultra low temperatures, said method comprising:
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providing a carousel in said freezer compartment;
depositing a container into a climate-controlled chamber;
controlling the climate of said chamber while isolating said chamber for a predetermined time while the container remains in said chamber;
retrieving the container from said chamber to said freezer compartment while said chamber is isolated from the exterior; and
storing the container in said carousel.
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32. A method for automatically storing and retrieving containers in a freezer compartment at ultra low temperatures, said method comprising:
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providing a carousel in said freezer compartment;
providing a climate controlled chamber;
retrieving a stored container from said freezer into said climate controlled chamber, while said chamber is isolated from the exterior;
controlling the climate of said chamber while isolating said chamber for a predetermined time while the container remains in said chamber; and
presenting the container for pickup while said chamber is isolated from said freezer compartment.
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33. The method of 32, wherein said presenting the container comprises ejecting the container to the exterior for pickup.
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34. A method for automatically depositing and storing containers in a freezer compartment of an automated apparatus at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer compartment, said freezer compartment having a side wall;
a storage carousel disposed inside said freezer compartment for holding the containers;
a climate-controlled chamber disposed on said side wall;
a climate control system for controlling the climate of said chamber;
an interchange mechanism configured to;
interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said climate-controlled chamber while in a chamber exchange position, and interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said carousel while in a carousel exchange position; and
said chamber being configured to;
isolate the container from said interchange mechanism as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolate the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber and said interchange mechanism.
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35. A method for automatically storing and retrieving containers in a freezer compartment of an automated apparatus at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer compartment, said freezer compartment having a side wall;
a storage carousel disposed inside said freezer compartment for holding the containers;
a climate-controlled chamber disposed on said side wall;
a climate control system for controlling the climate of said chamber;
an interchange mechanism configured to;
interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said climate-controlled chamber while in a chamber exchange position, and interchange a container between said interchange mechanism and said carousel while in a carousel exchange position; and
said chamber being configured to;
isolate the container from said interchange mechanism as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolate the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber and said interchange mechanism.
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36. A method for automatically depositing and storing containers in a freezer compartment of an automated apparatus at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer means for freezing the containers;
a storage means disposed inside said freezer means for holding the containers;
a chamber means for interchanging the containers between the exterior and said freezer means;
a climate system control means for controlling the climate of said chamber means;
an interchange means for;
interchanging a container between said interchange means and said chamber means while in a chamber exchange position, and interchanging a container between said interchange means and said storage means while in a storage exchange position; and
said chamber means for;
isolating the container from said interchange means as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolating the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber means and said interchange means.
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37. A method for automatically storing and retrieving containers in a freezer compartment of an automated apparatus at ultra low temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
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a freezer means for freezing the containers;
a storage means disposed inside said freezer means for holding the containers;
a chamber means for interchanging the containers between the exterior and said freezer means;
a climate system control means for controlling the climate of said chamber means;
an interchange means for;
interchanging a container between said interchange means and said chamber means while in a chamber exchange position, and interchanging a container between said interchange means and said storage means while in a storage exchange position; and
said chamber means for;
isolating the container from said interchange means as container is deposited from the exterior or placed into the exterior, and isolating the container from the exterior as container is exchanged between said chamber means and said interchange means.
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Specification