EP1784651A1

EP1784651A1 - Unit for processing microbiological samples

Info

Publication number: EP1784651A1
Application number: EP05781447A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Ivan Sygall; Johannes Jansen
Original assignee: Weber-Mathiessen Klaus; Bioplan Consulting GmbH
Current assignee: Bioplan Consulting GmbH
Priority date: 2004-09-03
Filing date: 2005-09-02
Publication date: 2007-05-16
Also published as: BRPI0515138A; CN101052880A; WO2006027163A1; RU2007111840A; US20080160599A1; AU2005281875A1; DE102004043399A1; JP2008511295A; IL181662A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit for processing microbiological samples, comprising a conveyor device, conveying the samples, for example, in microtitre plates. At one point on the transport device a processing station is arranged. The samples for processing are here transferred in a sample container from the transport device to a processing device, which can comprise several processing areas, of which only one is ever in a processing position. The processing is carried out in the processing position by means of a processing device, which is displaced from the idle position thereof into the processing position by means of a manipulation device. The manipulation device comprises a coupling device for the mechanical and functional coupling of the processing device.

Description

Description Plant for the treatment of microbiological samples

The invention relates to the automatic or automatable treatment of biological samples.

It is known that biological samples which are arranged in microtubes are treated in a special way. The treatment includes the removal of certain quantities of liquid from the liquid samples, the introduction of reagents, the examination of various parameters and so on. Since large quantities of samples often have to be treated, the microtubes are often mounted in holders which can be designed as microtiter plates. It is also already known to have a part of the transport of the microtiter plates performed with handling equipment. It is possible to provide the microtiter plates with machine-readable designations and to deposit the position of a specific sample within the special microtiter plate in an electronic memory.

A sample treatment apparatus for treating biological samples is known from European Patent Application 1 348 485. The invention is based on the object of providing a possibility of how the most varied processes of treatment of biological samples can be carried out in large numbers and possibly also under clean-room conditions according to a wide variety of criteria, in particular if these criteria are present only result or change during the processing.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a system for the automated treatment of biological samples with the features mentioned in claim 1.

The system thus contains a transport device which can be driven by a controlled drive and which can transport the sample containers. These may be wells of a microtiter plate or else other sample containers, e.g. Wells act. The system also contains at least one treatment station to which the sample is to be brought if it is to be treated. It is treated with a treatment device, such as a pipetting device. This treatment device is positioned by the handling device in relation to the treatment station in such a way that the treatment with this device can be carried out at this point.

This type of distribution of tasks has the advantage that the individual devices or devices, namely the transport device, the treatment device and the handling device, operate largely independent of each other, so that their work is controlled, controlled and influenced by a central control can. The individual devices can be adapted to their specific task. For example, the transport device is exclusively there to portieren all required sample containers and consumables. The task of the handling device is, with the help of the handling equipment to process the sample containers in the prescribed manner.

In order to be able to hold empty sample containers, the system according to the invention can, in a further development, have a magazine for holding sample containers and a device for removing the sample containers from the magazine and for transfer to the transport device. This removal device works independently of the other Ein¬ devices, but can be controlled by the central control.

In order to be able to treat samples which have to act under certain conditions for a certain period of time, according to the invention, according to the invention, the system can have an incubator for accommodating samples in a defined environment.

In order to further expand the aforementioned advantage of the independence of the transport and the treatment, it can be provided according to the invention that the treatment station is arranged outside the transport path of the transport device. The transport route is to be understood as that route along which the sample containers connected to the transport device are transported. Outside this transport path means that the sample containers are set so far that the transport device can continue to work. The treatment station can therefore be arranged laterally on each of the two sides of the transport route, but also above or below the transport route.

In order to transfer a sample container from the transport device to the treatment station, according to the invention, the system can have a transfer device. This transfer device can also serve to transfer the sample container from the treatment station, once the treatment has taken place, back to the transport device. It Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, separate devices may also be present for this purpose, ie a transfer device from the transport device to the treatment station, and a second transfer device for transferring the sample container from the treatment station to the transport device.

By way of example, the transfer device can work in such a way that a transfer takes place when the transport device is stopped. However, it is also conceivable that the transfer device is moved with the transport device, so that the transition can take place during the movement of the sample container through the transport device.

In a development of the invention, it can be provided that this transfer device also operates independently of the other devices, in particular independently of the handling device.

It has already been mentioned that the actual treatment of the biological sample takes place at the treatment site. The sample containers remain standing at the treatment station. The treatment device is brought by the handling device to this point. In the sample containers, which are very small, the handling device positions the treatment device so that it meets the opening of the sample container. In a development of the invention, it is now proposed that the handling device be designed not only for mechanical coupling to the treatment device, but also for functional coupling. For example, via a mechanical coupling between the handling device and the treatment device, a Stromversor¬ supply by making a plug connection or other Kon¬ takts done. A mechanical drive, if the treatment device is also to assume a mechanical activity, can be coupled by coupling between the handling device and the treatment device. It is also conceivable that negative pressure or overpressure is placed by coupling to the treatment device. It is ensured in this way, among other things, or ensured that the treatment device is ready for treatment only when it is coupled to the handling device. In addition, this measure serves to ensure that as few cable and hose connections as possible have to be fastened to the treatment devices. In the clean room, moving hoses and cables are an important source of contamination.

It is also provided to couple via the handling device, if necessary, also media (culture solutions), water, cleaning solutions and a suction line, by means of which it is possible to completely avoid hoses on the treatment devices.

The treatment device is placed in a waiting station during the time it is not in use. This waiting station is arranged outside the treatment station in such a way that it does not conflict with the transport of the sample containers and the transfer of the sample containers to the treatment station.

In a development of the invention, provision may be made for the waiting station to be designed in such a way that it not only keeps the treatment device ready for later treatment, but also carries out cleaning of the device during breaks in work. During the times during which a special treatment device is not in use, it can thus be cleaned, so that these waiting times of the treatment device can be utilized. This improves the overall throughput of the plant. In addition, a functional coupling can also exist between treatment device and storage station. However, this is a functional coupling with another task. As a result, the power supply of the treatment device during storage and the control of the self-cleaning during treatment breaks should be achieved. Since many different treatments often have to be carried out in the case of biological samples, in a further development of the invention the system can have a plurality of treatment devices operating independently of one another, each of which has its own waiting station. The control of the system controls the handling device in such a way that it selects the treatment device required for the respective task and brings it to the treatment station.

In processes with considerable expenditure of time for the cleaning of the treatment devices, for example sterilization, after each individual processing, it may be advantageous to provide a plurality of similar treatment devices. The separation of handling device and treatment devices on which the present invention is based makes this possible.

The arrangement of the separation of transport area, processing area, handling device and treatment devices on which the invention is based makes it possible to carry out an alternating processing of two processes during the processing of se¬ rieller processes with high cleaning effort between the individual operations, for Example 1-2-1-2-1 -3-1-4-1 -2-1-2, where 1 is a high-volume serial process.

Of course, a treatment device can be designed such that it performs treatments on a multiplicity of sample containers, for example for all microtubes of a microtiter plate. The Behandlungs¬ devices can also be designed so that it can be selected to which of the sample container treatment is made, which are currently at the treatment center.

In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that the waiting positions of the treatment devices and / or the treatment station of the are arranged so that the handling device can select and control the positions of the treatment devices by a linear movement along a single degree of freedom. For example, in a handling device movable along a straight line, the waiting positions may also be arranged along a straight line. However, if a handling device is used which can be rotated about a fixed axis, it makes sense to arrange the waiting positions of the treatment devices along a circular arc.

It is also useful if, according to a further feature of the invention, one degree of freedom of the handling device is a movement parallel to the transport direction of the transport device.

To further improve the efficiency of the system can vor¬ be seen that the treatment center itself is also movable, and preferably in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the transport device. This is particularly useful if in several treatment devices, the area in which the waiting positions of the treatment devices are arranged, is slightly larger, and a Be¬ treatment device requires a hose connection. Then the treatment place can be moved closer to the waiting position of the treatment device. This is particularly advantageous for machining in the clean room, since the critical movement of supply hoses above the product level is avoided by the uncritical movement of the treatment station.

On the other hand, if hoses and cables can be dispensed with because of the media supply via the handling device, it is then also possible to arrange the treatment stations in a stationary manner. You then do not need to be tracked to the limited moving Bearbeitungswerkzeu¬ gene. If the treatment station is movable, for example with the aid of a carriage, according to the invention, the carriage can then also have a plurality of treatment stations, of which, however, only one can be arranged in a treatment position with a treatment device. In this way, transfer processes can already be carried out while a treatment is being carried out.

The transport device which moves the sample containers is preferably a circulating transport device in which the sample containers are moved along a closed path. It is particularly useful if this closed transport path has two parallel sections and two deflections connecting them. The transport path thus corresponds to an oval. The handling device can be arranged, for example, next to a rectilinear section. For space reasons, however, it is preferred that the handling device and / or the treatment device and / or the treatment station are arranged in the deflection area. There, a relatively large number of waiting positions can be arranged, which can be controlled by the handling device without coping with large distances.

The treatment station can advantageously be arranged between the transport route and the waiting positions of the treatment devices.

According to the invention, microtiter plates can be provided as sample containers.

The transport of the sample containers can for example be done so that the transport device has holders for the microtiter plates auf¬, for example, at regular intervals in each case a holder for each microtiter plate. The transfer device can be formed such that it transfers the microtiter plate or the sample container or a plurality of sample containers to the treatment station. But it is is also possible and is proposed by the invention that the transfer device transfers the holder with the sample container to the treatment station.

It was mentioned in the beginning that the system can have a magazine for holding empty sample containers. Magazines of this type are often formed as carousel towers, which can be rotated by a drive, wherein the removal takes place along a vertical row in one place.

Instead, the invention proposes instead that the magazine has at least one rectilinear path leading to the front for a series of sample containers to be arranged behind one another, preferably a multiplicity of superimposed webs. As a result, a large number of sample containers can be accommodated in a small space. Preferably, a plurality of such arrangements of webs are arranged next to one another.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the tracks are designed such that the containers are acted upon in the direction of the front side against a stop arranged there. This can ensure that there is always a sample container available at the removal point, namely the front, as long as a sample container is still present in the web. He can be removed there from a sampling device.

The application to the front can, for example, be effected by driven rollers on which the containers rest.

Another possibility of loading the sample containers may be that circulating belts are present, for example se two parallel revolving belts on which the containers rest. These belts can then be driven by a motor.

For the loading can be provided that a slip zwi¬ rule the belt or rollers and the containers is present. But it is also possible and is within the scope of the invention that the slip between the belt or rollers and their drive is present.

Another possibility is that the application is generated by an oblique course of the webs. In this case, it can be provided that the webs are roller conveyors, that is to say that the sample containers rest on the rollers and are acted upon by their own weight against the stop present on the front side. When the roller conveyors are sloping towards this front side, a drive for the magazine is left.

A further possibility is that they are webs with a lubricious coating, so that the sample containers are likewise acted upon by their weight to the front and slide along the webs due to their weight.

The removal device removes from each row the vorders¬ th sample container, while the other then slip or roll. By arranging a plurality of disks formed from one another arranged on top of one another, magazines can be built which can accommodate a large number of microtiter plates, for example, in a small space. In this case, it can be provided that the roller conveyors have an upper guide for the sample containers, in particular the microtiter plates. It can be provided that the distance between the upper side of the rollers and the lower side of the respective upper guide is smaller than the sum of the height. he removed lid and the lidless lower part of the sample container.

It is particularly useful to design the roller conveyors so that the upper guide is formed by the rollers of each upper roller conveyor.

For removal of the sample container, the removal device may be designed such that it lifts the foremost sample container via a stop.

A second possibility is that it pushes out a stop in front of the foremost sample container and engages in the gap which opens in the horizontal when the slipping out of the container in front of the next sample container.

In the transition of the sample container from the downwardly sloping so inclined roller conveyor in the required for the transport device chei horizontal is always a gap between the horizontally arranged sample container and the next sample container. This gap leads to a strong loading of the front upper edge occurring in the following sample container. This can lead to Ab¬ jump the lid. In addition, during loading of the roller conveyors with products, the products impact with force on the abutment edge on the removal opening or on an already existing product. As a result of this, the lid of the impacting product could lift off and block the guideway. Even when lifting the front container, the risk of the lid jumping open can occur. The leaking of the lid is prevented by the space above the lid and below the upper guide is dimensioned so that a jump is prevented. The incubator likewise possible in the system can be arranged according to the invention such that the transfer of a sample container into the incubator and out of it takes place in a straight line and horizontally. For this purpose, the incubator can have an opening which is arranged at the same height as the transport device. The opening serves to enter sample containers into the incubator and to remove them. It has such a size that just a sample container fits in the height. A handling device for inputting and removing sample containers is arranged outside the incubator and can be moved along the opening. The opening is so long that all sample containers can be directly inserted directly into the receiving spaces present in the inkator.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the Inkuba¬ tor is designed such that a movement of the sample container can be done by existing in the interior of the incubator facilities, de¬ ren drive but is located outside of the incubator. The coupling with the drive can be carried out by guided through the walls waves that are stored. These bearings can be sealed well. The arrangement of the drive outside of the incubator is a low risk of contamination. This is especially important as clean room conditions must prevail inside the incubator. There is also the possibility to sterilize the interior by ag¬ gressive gases or chemicals.

The drive can be designed so that the sample containers are moved slowly within the incubator in order to homogenize the climatic conditions in the interior.

In order to interfere only slightly with the conditions prevailing in the interior during loading and unloading of the incubator, according to the invention, in further development, it can have an inlet lock, which only for the process of insertion and removal is opened. This inlet lock can for example be constructed similar to a revolving door.

Since the opening of the incubator can be long because of the large number of sample containers to be arranged side by side, according to the invention, the door of the lock can be subdivided.

The incubator also possible in the system can according to the invention comprise a multiplicity of holders for sample containers which are arranged along a closed path and can be transported along this path, preferably in both directions. In this case, sample containers can again be understood as meaning microtiter plates, which in turn receive a multiplicity of microtubes or similar devices. The movement along a closed path means that each holder is brought to a position at which an opening for feeding the incubator and removing it from the incubator vor¬ is present. The closed path is formed, for example, by the fact that the holders are attached to two circumferential chains, belts or the like in a paternoster-like manner, in particular suspended. In this way, the sample containers can also be moved within the incubator, so that all the sample containers are in the same space.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the chain, the rule or the like have multiple vertically extending strands. As a result, the height of the incubator is reduced so that the interior space assumes the shape of a cube with more uniform conditions.

In development of the invention, the incubator may have a plurality of E benen formed by drivable circumferential bands be or have this. In each level, parallel rows of sample containers can be accommodated.

In a further development, a transport segment can be provided which can be moved vertically and can be stopped at the level of each or at least part of the planes. In this way, it is again possible to make do with an inlet opening which may have a length extending over the entire width of the incubator housing, but which only needs to be so high that a specimen container can be pushed in from the outside , This can then be raised or lowered by the transport segment to the appropriate level. The transport segment can receive a series of sample containers, which are arranged side by side. Two-dimensional fields of sample containers are then present on the planes.

In a further development of the invention, a drive coupling can be provided between the transport segment and the circulating belt of the planes, which can then be engaged when the transport segment is arranged at the height of the respective plane. Then, by transporting the transport segment, a number of sample containers can be transferred to the plane, during which transfer process the plane moves one cycle further. As a result, no active drive of the conveyor belts is needed.

In a further development of the invention can be provided that the incubator has a return segment, which is similar to the transport segment vertically and laterally movable and can stop at the level of the levels. This return segment serves to resume the sample containers pushed through the planes and return them to another plane, from which they return to can be brought to the point where the transport segment is present.

A drive coupling can also be provided between the return segment and the circulating band of the planes, which can be brought into engagement with the height when aligned and couples the drive of the return segment to the plane.

The return segment is preferably drivable in both directions, similar to the transport segment.

For loading the incubator, a handling device may be provided which is provided outside the incubator and which can be moved along the inlet opening of the incubator.

According to the invention, the system may further comprise a loading station for the manual task or for the removal of sample containers in or out of the transport device, if a manual intervention is desired at a certain point or under rarely occurring conditions.

According to the invention, the system can also have an automatic ejection station for sample containers, if they are no longer needed.

To remove the lid of the sample container immediately before it is transferred to the treatment stations, the system can have a lid removal device.

In order to carry out special treatments, which are only less frequent, individual additional analysis or processing stations can be arranged along the transport path. The magazine and the incubator discussed here can also be used independently of the type of installation as described herein, so that independent protection is claimed for them.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and abstract, the wording of which is incorporated by reference into the content of the description, the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawing. Hereby show:

Figure 1 shows schematically an overview of a plant for processing and treatment of biological samples according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a representation of the spatial allocation of handling device, transport route, treatment station and processing device;

Figure 3 shows schematically the view of a magazine for holding sample containers;

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a compartment of the magazine;

Figure 5 is a simplified representation of a container for receiving samples;

Figure 6 is an end view of a compartment of the magazine;

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an incubator; 8 shows schematically the arrangement of a holder for the Inkuba¬ tor of Figure 7;

FIG. 9 the schematic side view of a lock for the opening of the incubator;

Figure 10 is a partial view of the opening of the incubator from the right in Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows schematically the arrangement of a second incubator;

FIG. 12 simplifies a section through the type of drive of the injector of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows the arrangement of a device for removing a lid of a sample container;

Figure 14 is a plan view of the treatment end of a plant in a simplified form;

Figure 15 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 14 in a geän¬ derten embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows the plan view of an embodiment which has been changed again compared with FIG.

FIG. 17 schematically shows the arrangement of several circulating transport devices;

Figure 18 on an enlarged scale a deflection at the end of a transport path; FIG. 19 shows a device for transferring pictures to the transport device;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a device for storing consumables;

FIG. 21 shows an end view of the arrangement of FIG. 20 from the left in FIG. 20.

FIG. 1 shows in an overview representation from above an example of a system according to the invention. The system contains a transport device 1, which is formed, for example, by a chain or a belt. With the aid of a drive, not shown, this transport device is moved, wherein, in principle, a movement in both directions is possible, but the movement in only one direction is preferred. The transport device moves a plurality of holders 2 for sample containers along a closed path, which has two parallel ge-rectilinear sections 3, which are mitein¬ other connected by two deflections 4. If one imagines the transport device as having a circulating chain, the deflections 4 would therefore be formed by deflection gears. But it is not necessary that the transport device actually consists of a chain. There may also be a guide having the shape shown in Figure 1 as an example. The brackets 2 are arranged at regular intervals and are moved by the transport device. The movement can be an intermittent or a continuous movement.

At the lower end of the transport device 1 in the representation of FIG. 1, the treatment of the biological samples takes place. Here is a base 5 is arranged, on which the various still to be explained items of the system are arranged. In addition to the rectilinear sections 3 of the transport device 1, two magazines 6 for empty sample containers are arranged in the example shown. Each magazine 6 includes a removal device 7, which removes a sample container, for example a microtiter plate, from the magazine 6 and places it in a holder 2. These sample containers are then brought from the transport device to the processing station at the bottom in FIG.

On the opposite side, an incubator 8 is arranged, in which filled sample containers can wait a certain time, during which the samples are acted upon.

For feeding the brackets 2 on the transport device 1 is a transfer device 9, which will not be described in detail.

On the machine base 5, the facilities used for the treatment of the samples are used. On a circular arc outside of the space occupied by the brackets 2 place a carriage 10 is ange¬ arranged, which is limited in both directions about the center of the deflection 4 movable. On the carriage 10 are a plurality of holders 1 1 for the microtiter plates in front of others. Again outside the space occupied by the carriage 10 and the holders 11, several treatment devices 12 are arranged, which have their waiting position there. The waiting positions of the treatment devices 12 are thus on a circular arc, which is arranged concentrically to the carriage 10 and the Um¬ steering 4.

In the deflection itself, rotatable about the center of the deflection 4, a handling device 13 is mounted, which can be pivoted about the center of the deflection 4 and can perform further movements. In the illustrated embodiment, the brackets 2 are arranged on the outside of the transport device 1, and accordingly the magazines 6 and the incubator 8 also outside. When transferring sample containers from the magazines 6 to the brackets 2 and from the brackets 2 to the incubator 8 so does not bother the actual transport device. In the case of more complicated transfer devices, the holders 2 on the one hand and incubator 8 and magazine 6 on the other hand could also be arranged on different sides of the transport device.

As already mentioned, the holders 11 of the carriage 10 are arranged outside the region of the holders 2 of the transport device, and the waiting positions of the treatment devices 12 are again outside the region of the carriage 10.

In addition to the handling device 13, a carousel 14 is arranged, which can serve to receive lids of the sample container. A gripper 15 can remove the lids from the sample containers approaching the processing station and place them on the carousel 14. After passing through the processing station, the gripper 15 can again remove the respective lid from the carousel 14 and place it on the sample container. The carousel 14 rotates with the movement of the transport device 1. It can therefore be ensured in this way that the cover is again assigned to the sample container to which it has been removed.

The arrangement of treatment devices 12, the carriage 10 and the brackets 2 of the transport device is again her¬ from Figure 2 ago. FIG. 2 is very schematic. The treatment apparatuses 12 are arranged in their waiting positions outside the movement path of the carriage 10. On the carriage 10 are several holding ments 11 for the microtiter plates. The transport path of the holders 2 of the transport device 1 lies closest to the middle point of the treatment station, in which the handling device 13 is arranged. The handling device can not only rotate about the center point axis of the transport device 1 in the deflection point 4, but can pivot its two arms 16 and 17. At the front end, a short arm 18 is again pivotably mounted, at the free end of which a coupling device 19 is provided. With the coupling device 19, the front arm 18 of the handling device 13 is coupled to a holder of the treatment device 12. Then, this handling device 12 is removed from its waiting position and positioned relative to a holder 11 on the carriage 10 and lowered there so far that the treatment device 12 can treat the sample container in the holder 11 on the carriage 10. The sample container was transferred from a holder 2 of the transport device to the holder 11 on the carriage 10 by a transfer device, not shown. The treatment of a sample container thus always follows in a holder 11 on the carriage 10, wherein only one holder 11 is always in a treatment position. This treatment position need not have a fixed place, but may change over a certain range of movement of the carriage 10. In treatment devices 12, which have a hose connection or a line, the holder 11, on which the treatment is to take place, is brought closer to the corresponding device 12. Thus, there is always only one treatment position, even if a plurality of holding devices 11 filled with sample containers are present on the carriage 10.

Now to the figures 3 to 6, which represent a magazine 6 in greater detail. The magazine 6 contains a plurality of juxtaposed slices of guides arranged one above the other for the sample containers 20. FIG. 3 shows this only schematically. It need between the individual slices and no partitions to be present, since it is sufficient to use grid-like structures for the individual raceways ver¬. In the individual guides, the sample containers 20 are arranged one behind the other, the first sample container 20 being prevented from slipping out by a stop to be seen in FIG. The remaining sample container 20 are due to their weight to the respective front container. FIG. 3 shows such a magazine from its front side. The front side is the side on which the removal should take place with a device 7.

Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of two successively arranged sample container 20 in a guideway of a magazine. The guideways are designed as roller conveyors. On lateral cheeks 21 rollers 22 are rotatably mounted. The distance between two rollers 22 is selected so that a sample container 20 rests on a plurality of such rollers 22 in each position. As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the distance between the upper side 23 of the sample container 20 and the rollers 22 of the next higher cheek 21 is small. The rollers 22 of each next higher cheek 21 thus not only form a guide for the sample container present there, if it is not the top cheek 21, but also a Füh¬ tion for the lower sample container 20th

As already mentioned, the foremost sample container 20 of each guide track is prevented by a stop 24 from slipping out of the magazine or rolling out. To remove a sample container 20 from the magazine, the removal device must raise the sample container 20 in the region of its leading edge so far that it passes over the stop 24. This is possible because the space between the upper side 23 of the sample container 20 and the roller 22 of the upper cheek 21 is slightly larger than the distance of the upper edge of the stop 24 from the upper edge of the underlying roller 22. If the front container 20 is raised in the region of its front side so that it approaches the horizontal, its rear upper edge presses against the front upper edge of the lid 25 of the next sample container 20. There is thus a risk that the lid of this sample container 20 jump off. However, the sample containers must remain provided with the lid until they reach the treatment station. The microtiter plates commonly used as sample containers look schematically as shown in FIG. The sample containers have a cover 25 and a lower part 26. The lower part 26 has a step 27, which has a certain distance from the upper edge 28 of the lower part. The lid 25 is formed so that it engages over the remaining above the step 27 of the lower part 26 of the lower part. In the closed state, the lower edge 29 of the lid 25 rests on the step 27. In order to lift the cover 25 from the lower part 26, the cover 25 must therefore be raised by the distance between the upper edge 28 and the step 27. In order to prevent unintentional jumping off of the cover, the distance between two superimposed webs 21 is adjusted so that the distance between the upper side 23 of the cover 25 and the rollers 22 lying above is smaller than the distance of the upper edge 28 from the Step 27. Thus, such a magazine can be used in this application, where due to the transition between sloping ver¬ running guideways and a horizontal position, the risk of jumping a lid.

FIG. 6 shows the view of a sample container contained in a guideway with lid and lower part from the front. It can be seen here that the rollers 22 on the cheeks 21 support the sample container 20 only along its edges, so that the middle region remains free. This can attack a sampling facility. Figure 7 shows in a very simplified manner an incubator, as it can be used in a facility for the treatment of biological samples. In a housing with an insulated wall, a peripheral gear means 30 is arranged, which is guided over three guide rollers 31 arranged in the upper area and four guide rollers 32 arranged in the lower area. The rotating gear means 30 can be moved by a drive not shown. Preferably, it can be moved in both directions. Each point of the rotating gear means can therefore be brought into conformity with an opening 32 which is intended for feeding the incubator and for removing it from the incubator. On the rotating gear means, for example two chains 34, holders 35 for sample containers 20 are mounted. These have laterally an angle 36, which is directed upward and in the upper region is pivotally fastened via an axis 37 on the chain 34. This allows the brackets 35 align, regardless of how the chain 34 is straight. By using a plurality of vertical strands, the interior of the incubator can be reduced in height, which can lead to a more uniform distribution of the temperature in the interior of the incubator.

FIG. 9 shows a detail of how the inlet opening 33 of the incubator of FIG. 7 can be constructed in detail. On the holders 35, see Figure 8, many sample containers 20 are arranged side by side. The incubator thus has a large length in the direction perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. Since a high air humidity of more than 95 percent is present in the incubator and must be present, the inlet opening should only be opened so far when entering and removing sample containers that the humidity can not drop. For this purpose, in a development of the invention, a lock 41 may be present, as shown in FIG. In the opening a reciprocally rotatable cylinder 42 is arranged with an interruption 43. This cylinder 42 is rotatable about a horizontal axis 44. The wall 45 of the incubator above and below Below the opening 33 includes a wall portion 46 which has the shape of a part of a circular cylinder. The rotatable cylinder 42 is arranged so that it bears sealingly against the sections 46. In the position shown, a sample container 20 can be inserted into the interior of the cylinder 42. By twisting, the opening 43 can then be oriented so that pushing out is possible. The interior of the cylinder 42 may also be partially filled.

Figure 10 shows the opening from the front of the incubator. Since the opening can be very long for the reasons already mentioned, it is possible to divide it. This is shown in FIG. Here, the cylinder 42 is half opened with the interruption 43 in the left position, while it is closed in the next following position. The subdivision of the opening into individual locks can correspond, for example, to the width of a single sample container 20.

FIGS. 11 and 12 now show a second embodiment of an incubator, as can be used particularly in the system according to the invention. Whereas in the incubator of FIGS. 7 and 8 the sample containers 20 arranged in rows are arranged along a path behind one another, another possibility of accommodating sample containers in the incubator is provided here. Here, single parallel planes are provided for the sample containers 20, of which the figure 11 shows only two levels. Circumferential bands 48 are provided in each plane, on whose upper run 49 the sample containers 20 are arranged. The circumferential bands 48 are guided around two guide rollers 50 around.

Before and behind the respective deflection rollers 50 of the planes, there are two shafts, in each of which a segment is arranged which can be moved in height, as indicated by the arrows 51. Behind the entrance opening 33, a transport segment 52 is arranged. This contains a conveyor belt 53 which is guided around two parallel deflecting rollers 54. The width of this conveyor belt 53 measured from left to right in FIG. 11 corresponds approximately to the size of a sample container 20. Perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 11, the length of the conveyor belt 53 is as large as the entire dimension of the incubator in this direction. As already mentioned, the transport segment 52 can be moved over the entire height of the incubator. It contains a drive arranged outside the interior of the incubator for its height adjustment and a drive for moving the conveyor belt around the deflection rollers 54, in both directions. With a pulley 54 a Kupplungsele¬ element 55 is connected, the element with a corresponding Gegenkupplungs¬ 56 on the guide roller 50 of the conveyor belt 48 of the plane together represents a clutch. If the transport segment 52 is brought to the same height as a certain level, the two coupling elements 55, 56 can be coupled. Then, the drive for the transport segment 52 can also drive the circulating belt 48 of the plane.

On the opposite side of the wall with the inlet opening 33 ab¬ side facing a return segment 57 is arranged, which is constructed practically the same as the transport segment 52. Again, the drive of the guide roller 54, which faces the interior of the incubator zu¬, a coupling element 55, which can cooperate with the corresponding coupling element 56 of the band 48 of the plane together.

The coupling elements, which are indicated only schematically in FIG. 11, protrude through a partition wall 58 of the incubator into a space 59 which, while still inside the housing of the incubator, is not part of the interior of the incubator. Between the existing there gears 60, which in extension of the waves of the pulleys 54 an are ordered, a clutch can be brought into engagement, which establishes the correct direction of rotation. This can be effected by a plurality of toothed wheels, it being understood that other possibilities, for example a magnetic coupling, can also be used.

The mode of action and / or the manner in which the incubator of FIGS. 11 of 12 can be operated is the following. By means of a front of the opening 33 existing the length of the opening 33 along movable transfer device is a sample container through the open lock on the transport segment 52 behind the opening 33 überge¬ ben. At the same time products to be processed are gradually pushed onto the transport segment 52. As soon as no further sample containers are provided for the treatment, the transport segment 52 moves at the level of a certain level. Then, the clutch formed from the coupling elements 55, 56 is closed and the horizontal drive of the transport segment 52 is set in motion. As a result, the row of sample containers 20 is transferred from the transport segment 52 to the band 48 of the corresponding level, while at the same time the sample containers 20 present on the level are moved one clock further. Then the clutch is released again and the transport segment 52 moves back to its starting position. This process is repeated several times. As soon as the sample containers 20 have arrived on the opposite side at the end of the corresponding plane, they are taken over there by the return transport segment 57 in the same way. Again, a clutch operating in the same way is provided. The return transport segment 57, after having taken up a number of sample containers 20, brings them to another plane, where they are then returned in the reverse manner to the band of this other plane. This band then moves cyclically in the opposite direction, so that the sample containers 20 are then returned from the transport segment 52 behind the inlet opening at the end of the process. 33 can be recorded. There they can then be taken out of the incubator again. The sample containers 20 wer¬ taken in this incubator in the same order in which they were entered. It is therefore a FIFO incubator or memory.

If the drive, which is coupled to the planes by the transport segments 52, 57, operates at the same speed everywhere, the number of planes operating in one direction is identical to the number of planes in the other direction work. Which of the planes work in each direction can be determined by the control.

Figure 13 now shows another device which is advantageous in connection with the system according to the invention. It has already been mentioned with reference to FIG. 1 that there is a device for lifting the lid off the sample container, which of course disturbs the processing of the samples. On the other hand, the lid must be placed back on the right sample container, that is the Probenbe¬ container from which it was removed. FIG. 13 now shows a second possibility for this. There is a turntable 61, which is rotatable about a mit¬ tig running between the two strands of the transport device vertical axis.

On the underside of the turntable 61 a plurality of receptacles 62 are arranged for each cover, in the middle of a suction cup 63 vor¬ present, which is acted upon via a line 64 with negative pressure. Underneath the holder for a sample container 20 is a drive 65 vor¬ present, which can push a plate 66 upwards. The drive 65 pushes the plate between the two arms of the holder and raises the entire sample container 20 until the lid on the bottom of the suction cup 63 comes to rest. This may be the control Detect tion at the pressure drop, since now no air can be sucked through the hose 64. As soon as this time is reached, the drive 65 moves the plate 66 down again, so that now the sample container 20 is lowered back onto the holder. The Dreh¬ plate 61 is then rotated, so that the receptacle 62 is moved with the lid now dar¬ held in the same cycle as the sample container 20. On the opposite side of the lid can then be placed back on the sample container 20, from which it was taken ent¬. It is thus ensured that the assignment zwi¬ rule lid and sample container is maintained.

Thus, the invention provides an automatically operated system in which a plurality of samples can be processed automatically. It may be that the treatment method may vary from sample to sample and that the treatment time per treatment method and / or sample may be very short.

In the processing area, clean room conditions often prevail. The actuator activities, ie in particular the movement of handling devices or sample carriers, must be matched to the clean room conditions, i. they have to be minimized. This solves the invention in that it minimizes the number of handling devices without reducing the number of different treatment options. In addition, the invention limits the total area required for the treatment of the samples to a small area without reducing the throughput. Furthermore, the processing of a sample with different treatment devices is made possible without moving the sample carrier between treatments.

Turning now to FIG. 14, FIG. 1 shows at the end of the installation at the treatment station that all work stations are arranged in the gripping area of the manipulator 13. FIG. 14 now shows strongly It can be arranged that, as an extension of the arrangement path 71 for the treatment places for the manipulation device 13, lateral treatment places 72 can be arranged at which activities of workstations can be carried out independently of the manipulation device 13. Furthermore, FIG. 14 shows that the entire treatment area can be closed off by an outer wall 73. The transport path itself can run ver¬ through a tunnel, not shown, which connects to the outer wall 73 of the treatment center.

While in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 14 the handling device 13 is arranged at a fixed position, so that the arm can be rotated about a stationary vertical axis, FIG. 15 shows a modification in which the handling device 13 is mounted on a vertical axis Rail 74 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the transport path. This makes it possible to feed not only the treatment stations on the arrangement path 71 but also on the rectilinear treatment places 72.

FIG. 16 shows a further modified embodiment, where, in addition to the stationary handling device 13 on the base 105, there are also arranged rectilinear lateral treatment stations 72, for the loading of which and further handling devices 75 are provided. Die¬ se handling devices 75 are along linear rails 76 verfahr¬ bar and thus simpler and easier to control. Of course, more than one handling device 75 can be arranged on the rails 76. Because of the larger number of individually controllable treatment stations, a plurality of trays 14 for the covers, each with the associated gripper 15, can also be present in this embodiment.

In the embodiments according to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 too, the bases 105 are arranged within a housing 73, which adjoins the position. where access is required can be opened. Preferably, the housing is constructed of a transparent material, so that all operations can be checked visually from the outside.

The transport device, see Figure 1, has a circumferential Einrich¬ device, can be attached to the receptacles for vessels or the like. Depending on the number of shots and possibly also the number of processing required for a particular shot, the rotating device can also reach a considerable length. If, for certain reasons, a rectilinear device can not be accommodated, according to the invention it is also possible to construct an arrangement with a plurality of transport sections, which can then be combined with one another such that a transfer from one transport route to another transport route is possible. An example is shown in FIG. 17. Furthermore, the invention provides for constructing the transport path from a grid, and for providing individual sections of the transport path with a length corresponding to an integer multiple of the grid dimension. For example, in Figure 17, a section 77 of the transport path has a length of six times the grid, and an adjacent transport section 78 has a length of eight times the grid.

In the arrangement of FIG. 17, a deflecting end of an adjacent transport path is arranged at the deflection end of the one transport path. In addition, a further transport path can be arranged with its umlen¬ ken end to a rectilinear portion of the first transport path.

In the representation of FIG. 1, the deflection of the transport device is only schematically illustrated and explained. Figures 18 and 19 show a more detailed embodiment in somewhat greater detail. The leadership of the recordings is here separated from their drive. For the recordings Transport nests 80 are provided, which are guided in tracks 81 with a äuße¬ Ren link 82 and an inner link 83. Both on the outer and on the inner backdrop, the transport nests are 80 with rollers fell 80 out. As a result, not only a smooth running, but also an exact positioning of the transport nests and thus ensures to be connected with them recordings for the samples to be treated. The transport nests can be connected to a toothed belt 85, which then assumes the task of transport, but not the task of the guide. The transport nests can engage with a projection in a tooth gap of the toothing of the toothed belt 85. As a result, the position of a transport nest in relation to the next transport nest can be set in a grid dimension that corresponds to the toothing of the toothed belt 85.

For driving and for deflecting the toothed belt 85 is a Zahn¬ disc 86 which has in the region of its outer periphery of the teeth of the toothed belt 85 corresponding training, but in addition pockets 87, to accommodate the transport nests. It is also conceivable to place the transport nests opposite the plane of the drawing of FIG. 18 in another plane, and to make the connection between toothed belt 85 and transport nest 80 such that a toothed disk without such transport nests 87 can also be used.

FIG. 19 shows, in a greatly simplified section, the manner in which a transport nest 80 engages in a guide track 81. This guide track 81 with the outer link 82 and the inner link 83 is accommodated in a rail 88, below which a hollow profile 89 is mounted for accommodating supply and control lines. At the top of the transport nest 80, a receptacle 90 is pushed in, which can be pushed onto the transport nest 80 as well as pulled down by it with the aid of a transfer device 91. For this purpose, the transfer device 91 has an arm 92 with, for example, a suction cup 93 at its free end. The Übergabe¬ device 91 is mounted on a console 93 which is laterally attached to the rail 88. The transfer device can be mounted anywhere on the rail 88, where a magazine 6, see Figure 1, is. Of course, transfer devices of this type can also be used to transfer recordings from one transport device to another transport device, for example at the points where these transport devices meet, see FIG. 17.

Figures 4 to 6 show a storage magazine 6, which is arranged next to a transport path and can be removed from the consumables and placed on the transport path. Figures 20 and 21 now show another embodiment of such a magazine in which such consumables are stored. The consumable articles may, for example, be microtiter plates in a wide variety of formats, with or without covers, or cell culture bottles of various sizes. There may also be racks in the format of microtiter plates, which are equipped, for example, with tubes. These store products have a proper frame surface and a vertical wall that provide attack surfaces for a clean. In addition, stackable in the products and can stand on each other.

The magazine shown shortened in FIG. 20 contains a frame which has rollers 95 in the region of its end associated with the transport path in order to be pushed over the bottom 96. At a distance from this end a table leg 97 is provided, at the lower end also rollers 95 are attached. This table leg 97 can be pivoted. The rollers 95 carry adjusted, which is formed horizontally in the upper Be¬. There, a transport device 98 is provided in the form of a drivable circulating conveyor belt. Maintenance of the transport belt 99 support plates 100 are arranged, which can be lifted individually by an indicated lifting device 101. The position of each support plate 100 corresponds to the position of a stack 102 to be stocked article. At the right end of a receiving position is provided to hang up a stack 102 manually.

Between the transport device 98 with the support plates 100 and the transport device 3 accommodated in a tunnel 104, a transport segment 103 is arranged whose length is slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of a stack 102 of articles. The transport segment 103 is limited in the vertical direction movable. It also contains a revolving controlled drivable Trans¬ portriemen. The transport segment 103 serves to transfer in each case the lower article of a stack 102 of articles through an opening in a housing 105 and an opening in the tunnel 104 to the transport device 3 of the treatment device, for which the transfer device 91 of FIG 19 is provided.

For further explanation of the stocking to the magazine, reference is now made to FIG. 21. This shows a view of the arrangement of Figure 20 from the left in Figure 20. The stacks 102 of stored articles rest in the magazine on the lower edge flanges 106 of the lateral cheeks 107. This is indicated in an article 108. If a stack 102 of articles 108 is now to be transported further, the support plates 100 are lifted by means of the respective associated lifting device 101 until the stacks lie on the transport belt 99 and are lifted off the lateral flanges 106. Then, a transport can be made by the belt 99.

The transport segment 103 is mounted on a lifting table 108, which is raised relative to a mounting rail 109 by means of a drive can be. For this purpose, schematically indicated guide rods 110 are provided. The lower end position of the lifting table 108 and thus of the transport segment 103 is selected such that the lowermost product in the stack hangs just on the flanges 106.

On the mounting rail are each a stop mechanism 111 hinged on the right and left, the lower ends 112 can be moved by a horizontally acting lifting drive 113. The upper ends 114 have engagement plates 115, with which they can be brought to bear against the side walls of the articles 108 and therefore retain such an article in each case. The upper end position of the movement of the lifting table 108 is selected such that the second-lowest article 108 of a stack lying on the transport segment 103 lies between the engagement plates 115 of the stop mechanism 111.

The horizontally acting lifting drive 113 may be, for example, magnets.

In FIG. 20, it can further be seen that an indexing device 120 is arranged on the side of the magazine assigned to the transport path 103 in the upper and lower regions. By means of this indexing device, the magazine is correctly positioned and aligned with respect to the tunnel 104 receiving the installation. The magazine is moved into the index position by an automatic mechanism, so that an exact positioning for the product transfer to the base unit is achieved. In this position, the rollers 95 lift something off the bottom 96, so that no mechanical Über¬ determination can take place here.

On the opposite side of the magazine, a control panel 121 is arranged, together with a handle 122. The control panel 121 is used to trigger the index device, that is, release the magazine again.

The transport within the housing 105 of the magazine operates as follows. Each transport segment, that is to say a region corresponding to a support plate 100, is equipped with a light scanner which detects whether products are on the segment or not. The transport transports a product stack from one segment to the next when the transport segment lying in front of the stack is recognized as being unoccupied. The support plates 100 of both segments are raised so that uninterrupted transport from one to the next segment takes place. As soon as the abandoned transport segment no longer sees any product, the transfer is successfully completed, and both transport segments can lower their support plates 100 again.

If a product from the stack arranged on the transport segment 103 is to be transferred to the transport of the base machine within the tunnel 104, this transport segment 103 lifts the stack until the second lowest product can be grasped and held by the abutment plates 115 of the stopper mechanism 111. The stopper mechanism is actuated so that the abutment plates 115 engage. The transport segment 103 now lowers while the stack is being held by the stop mechanism 111. In the starting position, the object now lying individually on the transport segment 103 can be transferred by the transfer device 91 of the recalls and to the base device.

A plurality of such magazines described in FIGS. 20 and 21 can be arranged along the transport path of the system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 17. The magazines can be driven away after release of the index device and re-equipped outside the system.

Claims

claims

1. Plant for the automated treatment of biological samples, with

1.1 a circulating transport device (1) for transporting Probenbehältem (20),

1.2 at least one treatment station for the samples in the sample containers (20),

1.3 at least one treatment device (12) for the samples, and with

1.4 a handling device (13) for positioning the Be¬ treatment device (12) relative to the treatment center.

2. Installation according to claim 1, with a magazine (6) for holding consumables, in particular sample containers (20), and means (7) for removing the consumable / the sample container (20) and for transferring the Verbrauchsmateri¬ than / the Sample container (20) to the transport device (1).

3. Plant according to claim 1 or 2, with an incubator (8) for un terbringen of samples in a defined environment.

4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment station outside the transport path of the transport device (1) is arranged.

5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, with an Ü- transfer device for transferring a sample container (20) from the transport device (1) to the treatment center and / or vice versa.

6. Installation according to claim 5, wherein the transfer device inde pendent of the handling device (13) works.

7. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling device (13) for the mechanical and functional An¬ coupling of the treatment device (12) is formed.

8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for the treatment device (12) is provided an outside of the Behandlungsplat¬ zes waiting station.

9. Plant according to claim 8, wherein the waiting station is so ausgebil¬ det that the treatment device (12) can be cleaned there, maintained and prepared for further work.

10. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, with a plurality of independently operating treatment devices (12).

1 1. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the Warteposi¬ tions of the treatment equipment (12) and / or the Behandlungs¬ place are arranged such that the handling device (13) ih¬ re positions by a linear movement along a his degrees of freedom can control.

12. Plant according to claim 8 to 11, wherein the waiting positions of the treatment devices (12) and / or the treatment center are arranged in a line parallel to the transport direction of the transport device an¬.

13. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a degree of freedom of the handling device (13) is a movement paral¬ lel to the transport direction of the transport device (1).

14. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment station in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the transport device is movable.

15. Plant according to claim 14, with several treatment stations and a treatment position.

16. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (1) moves the sample container (20) along a two parallel run and two deflections (4) having path.

17. Plant according to claim 15, wherein the treatment device (12) and / or the treatment station and / or the handling device (13) in the deflection region (4) is arranged.

18. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment station between the transport path of the transport device (1) and the waiting position of the treatment device (12) is arranged.

19. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, are provided in the sample container as microtiter plates.

20. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (1) has holders (2) for the microtiter plates.

21. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer device is designed such that it the Halterun- gene (2) from the transport device (1) passes to the treatment center.

22. Plant according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the Überga¬ device is designed such that it transfers the microtiter plates from the holders (2) of the transport device (1) to the Be¬ treatment space.

23. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 22, wherein the magazine (6) has at least one falling down to the front roller conveyor for ei¬ ne series of successively to be arranged sample containers (20), preferably a plurality of superimposed angeord¬ Neten roller conveyors.

24. Plant according to claim 23, in which the webs are designed such that the sample containers (20) are acted upon in the direction of the front side of the magazine (6) against a stop (24) present there.

25. Plant according to claim 24, in which the loading of the sample container (20) is effected by driven rollers on which the sample containers (20) rest.

26. Plant according to claim 24, in which the loading of the sample container (20) is effected by circulating belts on which the sample containers (20) rest.

27. Plant according to claim 25 or 26, with a slip between the belt or rollers on the one hand and the sample containers (20) on the other.

28. Plant according to one of claims 25 to 27, with a slip between the belt or rollers on the one hand and the drive for this on the other.

29. Plant according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the application is generated by an oblique course of the guideways for the Pro¬ benbehälter (20).

30. Plant according to claim 29, wherein the webs are roller conveyors.

31. Plant according to claim 29, in which the webs have a sliding coating.

32. Plant according to one of claims 23 - 31, wherein the Rollenbah¬ NEN an upper guide for the sample container (20).

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the distance between the O- side of the guide for the sample container and the underside of each upper guide is smaller than the sum of the height of the removed cover (25) and the lidless lower part (26) of the sample container (20).

34. Plant according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the upper guide of the roller conveyor is formed by the rollers (22) of the next higher roller conveyor.

35. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 34, wherein the Entnah¬ meeinrichtung is designed such that it raises the frontmost Pro¬ benbehälter (20) via a stop (24).

36. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 34, wherein the Entnah¬ meeinrichtung is designed such that it has a stop (24). in front of the foremost sample container (20) disengages and in the on opening of the slipping container (20) in the Waag¬ right-opening gap before the next sample container (20) ein¬ moves.

37. Plant according to one of claims 3 to 36, wherein the incubator (8) is arranged such that the transfer of a Probenbehäl¬ ters (20) in the incubator and out of him rectilinear and hori zontal.

38. Plant according to claim 37, in which the incubator (8) is designed in such a way that a new movement of the sample containers (20) takes place through means present in the incubator (8), the drive is outside the incubator (8). is arranged.

Plant according to claim 37 or 38, wherein the incubator (8) has an inlet lock which is opened only for the process of inputting and taking out sample containers (20).

40. Plant according to claim 39, wherein the inlet lock is divided.

Plant according to any one of claims 3 to 40, wherein the incubator (8) comprises a plurality of holders (35) for sample containers (20) arranged along a closed path and transportable along this path, preferably in both directions.

42. Plant according to claim 41, in which the holders (35) are suspended on two circumferential chains (34), belts or the like in a paternoster-like manner.

43. Plant according to claim 42, wherein the chain (34), the belt or the like has multiple vertically extending strands.

44. Plant according to one of claims 37 to 43, wherein the incubator (8) has a plurality of levels, which are formed by drivable um¬ deflected bands (48) or have these.

45. Plant according to claim 44, with a transport segment (52) which is vertically movable and can stop at the level of the levels.

46. Installation according to claim 44 or 45, in which between the transport segments (52) and the circulating belt (48) of the plane a drive coupling is provided, which can be brought into engagement with the height and can drive the transport segment ( 52) to the plane.

47. Installation according to one of claims 44 to 46, with a return transport segment (57) which is vertically movable and can stop at the level of the planes.

48. A system according to claim 47, wherein between the return transport segment (57) and the circulating belt (48) of the planes a drive coupling is provided which engages in height matching between the return transport segment (57) and the respective plane can be brought and the drive of the return transport segment (57) coupled to the plane.

49. Plant according to claim 47 or 48, wherein the transport segment (52) and the return transport segment (57) are drivable in both directions.

50. Plant according to one of claims 3 to 49, in which for loading the incubator (8) a handling device outside the In¬ cubic (8) is provided, the (33) of the In¬ cuboid (8) along the input opening (33) movable along is.

51. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, with a loading loading station for manual input of sample containers (20) in the transport device.

52. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, with an automatic ejection station for sample containers (20).

53. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, with a Vor¬ direction for removal and placement of a lid from or on a sample container (20).

54. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, with a zu¬ additional processing station along the transport path of the transport device.

55. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device for transporting consumables in the for the sample container (20) provided for holders aus¬ is formed.

56. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 55, wherein the magazine for holding consumable material and sample containers (20) as with the transport path mechanically and / or functionally ver¬ bindable unit is formed (Figure 20).

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the magazine is a Antriebsein¬ direction for the gradual onward transport of stacks (102) of Consumables and a transfer device for transferring a portion of a stack (102) auf¬ the transport device auf¬.

58. The system according to claim 56 or 57, wherein the transfer device of the magazine processes the stack (102) from below.

59. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the handling device (13) is additionally arranged movable in the longitudinal direction of the transport Porteinrichtung.

60. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (1) is constructed from modular units which are connectable to each other.