Abstract: In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a robotic storage system for storing microplates carrying a plurality of sample tubes is provided and may comprise a freezer room having a plurality of freezing units and a first robot being capable of removing a microplate from and moving a microplate into a freezing unit. The first robot may be further capable of transferring the microplate to a processing station, where the microplates are stored in the freezing units such that a plurality of microplates are arranged one above the other in a microplate recipient. The robotic storage system may also include at least one processing room and means for thermally separating the processing room from the freezer room. Each processing room may include a processing station having at least one tube transfer module as well as a second robot for moving the microplates between the microplate recipients and the at least one tube transfer module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a convection barrier for a freezer which may comprise a plurality of individual flaps arranged one above the other in a manner such as to be capable of forming a closed curtain of individual flaps, with each individual flap extending over a predetermined width corresponding at least to the width of the interior of the freezer and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position so as to allow access to the interior of the freezer when the flap is in the open position. Embodiments may also include actuation means attached to the individual flaps for allowing an actuator to engage the actuation means of an individual flap so as to pivot the said flap between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: A convection barrier for a freezer is disclosed. The convection barrier may include a foil having at least one opening therein, storage and transport means for storing and moving the foil so as to transport the at least one opening to a desired position allowing access through the at least one opening to the interior of the freezer at the desired position and tensioning means for continuously keeping the foil in a tensioned state.

Abstract: A stacker (1) for storing a plurality of microplates each having a top surface side and a bottom surface side opposed to the top surface side, comprises a housing and a removal gate (13) for removing a microplate of the plurality of microplates out of the housing. The stacker (1) is arranged to accommodate the plurality of microplates inside the housing such that the top surface side of one microplate of the plurality of microplates abuts on the bottom surface side of an adjacent microplate of the plurality of microplates and such that the housing adjoins to the plurality of microplates. Using such a stacker 1, the plurality of microplates can be arranged and stored in a compact manner wherein the single microplates of the plurality of microplates can still selectively and efficiently be accessed.