Patents Assigned to Liconic AG
  • Patent number: 11673142
    Abstract: A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks includes a low-temperature compartment having insulated side and bottom walls and at least one opening at a top side. The compartment is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus comprising a rack holder for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus comprising a gripper adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by the holder. The holder apparatus is adapted to displace the rack holder between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment above the opening and a lower rack position inside the compartment. The picker apparatus is adapted to displace the gripper between an upper gripper position outside the compartment above the opening and a lower gripper position inside the compartment below the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 11530862
    Abstract: A storage plant for storing objects at the temperature of liquid nitrogen comprises a plurality of storage tanks arranged in a cooled chamber. A nitrogen withdrawal apparatus is provided to carry off evaporated nitrogen directly from the storage tanks before it can enter the chamber. The pressure in the storage tanks is kept below the pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas Malin
  • Publication number: 20220381484
    Abstract: The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at several low temperatures, e.g., at ?80° C. and at ?110° C. The storage device includes a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed. The bottom section is divided into several, concentric storage zones, with the innermost, first storage zone being colder than the outer, second storage zone. A first insulating wall separates the two storage zones. This design reduces the thermal losses of the storage device. A refrigerant circuit with a non-inflammable cryo-liquid is provided for carrying off heat from the first storage zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas MALIN
  • Patent number: 10792662
    Abstract: An automated low-temperature storage for storing laboratory samples includes a storage zone for storing the samples that is maintainable at a first temperature below ?20° C.; a handling zone located above the storage zone that is maintainable at a second temperature above the first temperature and below 0° C.; a chamber laterally adjacent to the storage zone and the handling zone for storing the samples at a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature and below 0° C.; and a vertical wall separating the chamber from the handling zone and storage zone. A first opening arranged in said vertical wall connects the handling zone and the chamber; and an automated transport device is arranged at least partially in the handling zone and is configured to move the samples between the storage zone, the handling zone, and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 10772320
    Abstract: The blood bank comprises a cooled storage area with a plurality of stationary storage racks. Further, it comprises a buffer storage, which holds a number of movable storage racks. A robot is provided for moving blood products between the stationary storage racks and the movable storage racks. A product access door is arranged close to the buffer storage for manual access to the blood products within the movable storage racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas Malin
  • Publication number: 20190107315
    Abstract: A storage plant for storing objects at the temperature of liquid nitrogen comprises a plurality of storage tanks arranged in a cooled chamber. A nitrogen withdrawal apparatus is provided to carry off evaporated nitrogen directly from the storage tanks before it can enter the chamber. The pressure in the storage tanks is kept below the pressure in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas MALIN
  • Publication number: 20180360024
    Abstract: The blood bank comprises a cooled storage area with a plurality of stationary storage racks. Further, it comprises a buffer storage, which holds a number of movable storage racks. A robot is provided for moving blood products between the stationary storage racks and the movable storage racks. A product access door is arranged close to the buffer storage for manual access to the blood products within the movable storage racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas MALIN
  • Patent number: 10124341
    Abstract: The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at low temperatures, e.g. at ?80° C. It comprises a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20180272353
    Abstract: A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks comprises a low-temperature compartment (1) having insulated side and bottom walls (2, 3) and at least one opening (6) at a top side. The compartment (1) is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus (8) comprising a rack holder (9) for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus (25) comprising a gripper (26) adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by said holder. The holder apparatus (8) is adapted to displace the rack holder (9) between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower rack position inside the compartment (1). Similarly, the picker apparatus (25) is adapted to displace the gripper (26) between an upper gripper position outside the compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower gripper position inside the compartment (1) below the opening (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20180252460
    Abstract: An automated low-temperature storage for storing laboratory samples includes a storage zone for storing the samples that is maintainable at a first temperature below ?20° C.; a handling zone located above the storage zone that is maintainable at a second temperature above the first temperature and below 0° C.; a chamber laterally adjacent to the storage zone and the handling zone for storing the samples at a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature and below 0° C.; and a vertical wall separating the chamber from the handling zone and storage zone. A first opening arranged in said vertical wall connects the handling zone and the chamber; and an automated transport device is arranged at least partially in the handling zone and is configured to move the samples between the storage zone, the handling zone, and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Patent number: 9995525
    Abstract: The storage comprises, from the bottom to the top, a low temperature storage zone, for storing the samples, a handling zone, housing at least part of an automatic transport device, and an access zone, where the user can enter for maintenance. A separating wall consisting of removable panels insulates the access zone, for the rooms below it. A peripheral housing, contains a peripheral chamber for temporarily storing the samples at slightly higher temperatures. A liquid nitrogen container, is used to feed dry gas to the storage zone and to maintain it under slight overpressure for preventing the entry of moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9784495
    Abstract: A storage arrangement (1) has a chamber (3). Several Dewar flasks (5) are arranged in the chamber (3) and above them a picking device (8). The picking device has at least one cassette lift (60), with which storage cassettes (20) can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks (5). This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects even at very low temperatures. Each storage cassette (20) is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal is bent such that it forms the side walls (30), the back wall (32), the top part (34) and the base part (38) of the storage cassette (20), as well as angles (40, 42) to accommodate the laboratory objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9709314
    Abstract: The storage device comprises a storage chamber for storing objects at e.g. ?80° C., a transfer chamber for intermediate object storage at e.g. ?20° C. and a transport device arranged between them. The transport device comprises a pivotal and vertically displaceable carriage and is arranged in a rotatable lock chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9506941
    Abstract: A rotating holder to invert Petri dishes by 180° and to loosen the bottom from the cover, which has two positions to accommodate Petri dishes. By inverting the rotating holder around a rotation axis, the Petri dishes are reversed and inverted in the two positions. Thus the bottom of the upper Petri dish will be lowered and be engaged by a gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Publication number: 20160082440
    Abstract: The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at low temperatures, e.g. at ?80° C. It comprises a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20160084564
    Abstract: The storage device comprises a storage chamber for storing objects at e.g. ?80° C., a transfer chamber for intermediate object storage at e.g. ?20° C. and a transport device arranged between them. The transport device comprises a pivotal and vertically displaceable carriage and is arranged in a rotatable lock chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. MALIN
  • Publication number: 20150344835
    Abstract: The incubator has a climate-controlled chamber with a plurality of containers located therein. Each container can receive a sample plate and is adapted with light sources for exposing the samples to light. The incubator further comprises a handling device for transferring sample plates between the containers and a transfer location positioned outside an automatic door. A cooling unit is provided for carrying off excess heat from the light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas MALIN
  • Patent number: 9174790
    Abstract: A storage system (1) has a chamber (3). In the chamber (3), multiple storage tanks (5) are arranged, and a picking and placing device (8) is arranged above these tanks. Carrousels (8) are arranged in the storage tanks. These carrousels are suspended from a top pivot bearing (35) and laterally guided by a bottom pivot bearing (44). The top pivot bearing (35) is located outside the insulation (12) of the storage tanks and is thus protected from extreme temperatures. In the carrousel (18), storage cassettes (20) are arranged which are laterally held by guide elements (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: LICONIC AG
    Inventor: Cosmas Malin
  • Patent number: 9028752
    Abstract: A device for storing and handling Petri dishes having a base with a base wall arranged on a circumference of the base, and a lid. The device includes a storage device structured and arranged for storing the Petri dishes in an upside-down orientation so that respective lids are oriented below their respective bases, an inspection device structured and arranged for automatic inspection of the Petri dishes without their respective lids, and a transfer device structured and arranged for transferring the Petri dishes between the storage device and the inspection device. The transfer device includes a gripper, with which a respective Petri dish without the lid can be grasped laterally on the base wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin
  • Patent number: 9005542
    Abstract: The storage arrangement has a chamber. Several Dewar flasks are arranged in the chamber and above them a picking device. The picking device has at least one cassette lift, with which storage cassettes can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks. This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Liconic AG
    Inventor: Cosmas G. Malin