METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING TEST TUBES IN A LABORATORY AUTOMATION SYSTEM

• US 20160229565A1
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Margner, Lech
• Granted Patent: US 10,005,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/161 Sealing filled ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A method and a device for handling test tubes in a laboratory automation system are presented. During the handling, an open end of the test tube is covered by a residue-free removable, flat cover element forced against the open end of the test tube.

Claims

1. A method for handling an open test tube in a laboratory automation system, the method comprising:

covering an open end of the test tube by a residue-free, removable, flat cover element during the handling; and

forcing the cover element against the open end of the test tube.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cover element is a tape covering the open end of the test tube.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the tape is held under tension by forcing two sections of the tape extending at both sides past the open end of the test tube towards a lower end of the test tube.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the tape runs between a tape supply unit and a take-up unit.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the tape is forwarded from the tape supply unit to the take-up unit prior to covering the open end of the test tube.

6. A device for handling an open test tube in a laboratory automation system by a manipulator with a retaining area for the test tube, the device comprises:

a residue-free removable, flat cover element arranged for being forced against the open end of a test tube retained in the retaining area.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the cover element is a tape.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the tape is an aluminum tape, a copper tape, a plastic tape, a cling tape, or combinations thereof.

9. The device according to claim 6, further comprises,

a support plate attachable to the manipulator for arranging the tape in the retaining area.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the support plate is a fork-shaped support plate.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the support plate is moveable with respect to the Z-axis of the manipulator.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the support plate is forced along the Z-axis towards a tool tip of the manipulator by a force element.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the force element comprises at least one compression spring.

14. The device according to claim 7, further comprises,

a tape supply unit;

and

a take-up unit, wherein the tape runs between the tape supply unit and the take-up unit.

15. The device according to claim 14, further comprises

a driving device assigned to the take-up unit for forwarding the tape from the tape supply unit to the take-up unit prior to covering the open end of the test tube.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the driving device is synchronized with the manipulator such that upon or after releasing a test tube, the tape is forwarded for removing a potentially contaminated section of the tape.

17. The device according to claim 7, wherein the manipulator comprises a gripper with at least two fingers extending in the direction of the Z-axis for picking-up and retaining the test tube and wherein the tape runs between the at least two fingers with a flat face of the tape prior to picking-up the test tube oriented perpendicular to the Z-axis.

18. A laboratory automation system with a number of pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analytical stations for carrying out a method according to 1 and/or with a device according to claim 6.