CH713385A2 - A laboratory article storage apparatus comprising a static base and at least one storage tower removably attached to the static base. - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage device comprises a plurality of removable storage towers (11), each of which forms a plurality of storage positions (12) for receiving a laboratory object vertically above one another. A robot is provided for access to the storage positions. The storage positions (12) are formed by pivotable carriers (24). A drive is connected to all carriers (24). A tilt drive (28) is connected to drive the drive and thereby tilt all the carriers (24) in a repetitive manner.

Description

description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a storage apparatus for laboratory facilities comprising a static base and at least one storage tower removably attached to the static base. The storage device is equipped to automatically shake the laboratory objects.

PRIOR ART US 2011/0 085 409 and US 8 192 133 both describe climate cabinets with storage shelves designed to receive a plurality of laboratory objects in a vertical row. The devices are designed to shake the objects by shaking the entire shelves.

A number of applications require shaking mechanisms to repeatedly move the laboratory objects during storage. Such movements may e.g. simulate blood flow in biological samples.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The problem to be solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a storage device of this type which allows a controlled shaking of the laboratory objects.

This problem is solved by means of the storage device according to claim 1.

Accordingly, the storage device comprises a static base and at least one storage tower removably attached to the static base. In this context, the term "static" means that the base does not participate in the tilting movement of the carriers, as explained below. And "removable" describes the fact that the storage tower is removable from the device and reinsertable therein, preferably without the use of tools, or at least tools other than a screwdriver.

The at least one storage tower comprises: a plurality of supports which are vertically mounted one above the other. Each carrier forms a storage position for receiving a laboratory object and is pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation. - A drive, which is connected to all carriers. - A tilting drive, which is connected to drive the drive and thereby tilting all the carriers of the shelf to tilt them.

Consequently, each storage tower is equipped with a conventional tilting drive, which is designed to generate a tilting movement by means of the drive to shake the laboratory objects arranged on the carriers.

Advantageously, the storage device comprises a robot for automatically storing or removing laboratory objects on the carrier or from the carriers. The robot comprises a carriage which can be automatically moved vertically along the at least one storage shelf of the device. The trolley is equipped with a horizontally movable towards each wearer manipulator to put on an object or remove an object of it. The storage device is further configured to move the carriers to a predefined tilt position prior to manipulator manipulation, thereby simplifying automatic access.

The storage device is preferably used in a climatic chamber, but it can also be used as a stand-alone device.

Other advantageous embodiments are listed in the dependent claims and in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and other objects than the above-described objects will become apparent from the following detailed description. The description refers to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a climatic cabinet with a storage device with its door open and part of its wall removed,

FIG. 2 shows the climate cabinet of FIG. 1 with one of the storage towers removed; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows the object storage space of the storage device from the back,

Fig. 4 shows a single storage tower, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic partial sectional view of the tilting drive of the storage tower.

Ways to carry out the invention

Definitions The term "shake" describes a repeated movement of the laboratory objects to shake their contents. Preferably, "shaking" is a repeated back and forth tilting movement.

Storage Device The storage device of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a housing 1 which encloses a chamber 2. The chamber 2 is accessible through a front door 3 as well as through an automated rear door 4 (Figure 2).

The device is equipped with an air conditioning unit 5, which is configured and structured to maintain a defined temperature and atmosphere in the chamber 2. For example, the temperature is above 0 ° C, e.g. 37 ° C, and the humidity is high, e.g. at least 80% relative humidity.

An object memory 6 is arranged in the chamber 2. Fig. 3 shows the object memory in more detail.

The object storage comprises a stationary base 10 which is fixed to the bottom of the chamber 2.

The base 10 carries one or more storage towers 11. In the embodiment shown, two storage towers 11 are arranged on the base 10.

Each storage tower 11 provides a plurality of storage positions 12, each being shaped to receive a laboratory object. Examples of laboratory objects are microtiter plates, petri dishes or test tube racks.

Further, the base carries weeping robot 14, which is designed and structured for moving the laboratory objects between the storage positions 12 and the rear door 4. For this, it comprises a carriage 15 which is vertically displaceable along a lifting guide 13.

The carriage 15 holds a manipulator 16 which is rotatable about a vertical axis to be selectively aligned with each of the storage towers 11 and the rear door 4.

The manipulator 16 comprises a blade 17 which is shown in Fig. 3 in its extended position. The bucket 17 may be extended horizontally to penetrate the storage positions 12 or to pass through the rear door 4.

To remove an object from a storage position 12, the blade 17 is extended underneath, raised to act on it, and then withdrawn. To insert an object, these steps are performed in reverse order.

The operation of the robot 14 basically corresponds to that of the manipulator described in US 6,478,524 and is therefore not explained in detail here.

Storage tower Fig. 4 shows a single storage tower 11. It comprises a frame 20, 21, 22 with two vertical side plates 20 which are connected at their upper ends by means of a top plate 21 and at their lower ends by means of a base plate 22.

A plurality of carriers 24 are held in the frame 20-22, wherein each carrier 24 forms one of the storage positions 12.

Each carrier 24 is pivotally disposed between the side plates 20 so that it can be pivoted relative thereto about a horizontal pivot axis. One of the pivot axes is shown in Fig. 4 with the reference number 26.

A tilting drive 28 is attached to the frame 20-22. It is connected to a drive 29 for tilting the carriers 24 about their pivot axis 26 in a common movement.

The tilting drive 28 comprises a stepper motor 30 which is mounted on the frame 20-22, preferably on the top plate 21st

As best seen in Fig. 5, a spindle 31 which is rotatably controlled by the motor 30 rotates in a coupling 33. The coupling 33 is in turn connected to a rod 34 which extends vertically along the carrier 24 and which is pivotally connected to each of them.

When the carriers 24 make their tilting movement, the rod 34 moves along a substantially vertical but slightly curved path, as shown by the arrow 36 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Claims (11)

The coupling 33 comprises a first section 38 which is connected to the rod 34 and a second section 39 which is connected to the tilting drive 28 and a connecting member 40 between the first and the second section 38, 39 Spindle 31 is urged in a threaded bearing 41 of the second section 39 so that the section 39 can be moved up and down along the arrow 44 by operating the motor 30. The link 40 is configured and structured to allow lateral movement between the first and second sections 38, 39 while maintaining the vertical spacing therebetween substantially constant. In this context, "substantially constant" preferably means that the vertical distance during the tilting movement between the first and second sections 38, 39 does not change by more than 25%, in particular not more than 10%. The link 40 can be implemented by any structure having a much higher rigidity in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. Preferably, the connecting member 40 comprises at least one disc spring 42, which extends substantially vertically between the first and the second section 38, 39. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, there are at least two spaced-apart, parallel plate springs 42 extending between the first and second sections 38, 39 to maintain a defined orientation of the first section 38 with respect to the second section 39. The tilting drive 28 is designed and structured for vertical movement of the second section 39 upwards and downwards in a repetitive manner and structured, as shown by the arrow 44. This, in turn, forces the first section 38 to also move up and down as it follows its slightly curved path 36 and tilts the carriers 24 back and forth. In order to place the carriers 24 in a defined, preferably horizontal position before the robot 14 accesses the storage positions 12, the storage tower 11 is equipped with a position sensor 46 to detect the pivotal position of the carriers 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the position sensor 46 includes a light barrier 48 and a finger 50, one of which is static with the frame 20-22 while the other moves together with the second section 39. As the second section 39 moves up and down, the finger 50 enters and exits the photocell 48 to generate a signal in a predefined position. This signal can be used to detect the tilt position of the carriers 24. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the finger 50 is attached to a second section 39, while the barrier 48 is fixed to the frame 20-22. As best seen in Fig. 4, each carrier 24 includes a nest 52 for receiving a laboratory object. In the embodiment shown, the nest 52 is formed by two lateral support rails 54 which are positioned so as to support the laboratory object from below along parallel sections thereof. The distance between the side support rails 54 is sufficient for the blade 17 to be inserted between them to lift and deposit the laboratory object (see Fig. 3). The guide members 56 are attached to each carrier 24, e.g. They form a plurality of guide surfaces 58 which are tilted towards and surround the nest 52 to guide a descending laboratory object into the nest and laterally move it during the tilting movement of the carrier 24 to keep. Remarks In the above embodiments, the manipulator 16 is equipped with a bucket or spoon 17 for lifting the laboratory objects. Alternatively, it may be equipped with a clamp or gripper to hold it. In the illustrated embodiments, the storage towers 11 are attached directly to the static base 10. Alternatively, they may also be arranged on a carousel which rests on the base 10, as e.g. is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of US 2004 115 101. The device shown here may be equipped with a control device for controlling the shaking movements generated by the motor 30. The controller may be configured to allow the user to select the amplitude and frequency of the tilting movement and / or other parameters thereof. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and otherwise can be realized within the scope of the following claims. claims A laboratory article storage apparatus comprising a static base (10) and at least one storage tower (11) removably attached to the static base (10), the storage tower (11) comprising: a plurality of supports (24), which are mounted vertically one above the other, wherein each carrier forms a storage position (12) for receiving a laboratory object and is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis, a drive (29) connected to all carriers (24), and a tilt drive (28), which is connected to drive the drive (29) and thereby to tilt all the carriers (24). 2. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a robot (14) comprising a carriage (15) vertically displaceable along the at least one storage rack, the carriage (15) having a horizontally displaceable in the direction of each carrier (24) manipulator (16 ) to deposit an object thereon or to remove an object therefrom, wherein the storage device is configured and patterned prior to access by the manipulator (16) for transferring the carriers (24) to a predefined tilt position, in particular to a horizontal position. The storage device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (29) comprises a rod (34) extending vertically along the supports (24) and pivotally connected to each support (34). 4. The storage device of claim 3, comprising a coupling (33) between the tilting output (28) and the rod (34), the coupling (33) having a first section (38) connected to the rod (34). a second section (39) connected to the drive (28) and including a link (40) between the first and second sections (38, 39), the link (40) providing lateral movement between the first and second sections second section (38, 39) while keeping a vertical distance between the first and second sections (38, 39) substantially constant, and wherein the tilting drive (28) for vertically moving the second section (39) vertically upward and downwardly repetitively designed and structured. 5. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting member (40) at least one plate spring (42) extending between the first and the second section (38, 39), in particular at least two parallel, spaced disc springs (42) extending between the first and second sections (38, 39). The storage device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a position sensor (46) configured to detect a pivotal position of the carrier (24). The storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage tower (11) comprises a frame (20, 21, 22), each carrier (24) being pivotally mounted on the frame (20, 21, 22). 8. The storage device according to claim 4 or 5 and claims 6 and 7, wherein the position sensor (46) comprises a light barrier (48) and a finger (50), one of which statically connected to the frame (20, 21, 22) while the other moves together with the second section (39). 9. The storage device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the drive (28) on the frame (20, 21, 22) is attached. The storage device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each support (24) comprises a nest (52) for receiving a laboratory object and a plurality of guide surfaces (58) which are tilted towards and surround the nest (52) to guide the laboratory object into the nest (52). 11. A climate cabinet comprising the storage device according to one of the preceding claims.