Automatic Storing Device Climatic Chamber for Laboratory Objects

Abstract

A storage device, in particular for a climate controlled cabinet, is described. The storage device serves to store laboratory objects, in particular microtiter plates, in shelf racks (4). It comprises a pickup device (17) for automatically picking up and depositing laboratory objects from the or into the shelf racks (4). The shelf racks (4) are arranged such that they can receive several laboratory objects behind each other. This increases the storage capacity strongly while only slightly increasing space requirements, such that the costs per laboratory object drop. The pickup device (17) can pick up several laboratory objects arranged behind each other at the same time and bring them to a temporary storage position. From there a desired laboratory object can be withdrawn by means of a separating device (30) or an additional laboratory object can be added to the other laboratory objects. Then the pickup device can place back the objects into the shelf rack. This allows, with a simple apparatus, to access each individual laboratory object as desired.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of the German patent application 10 2005 001 888, which was filed on 14 Jan. 2005 and whose complete disclosure is herewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic storage device and a climate controlled cabinet for receiving laboratory objects, in particular microtiter-plates.

In modern research large amounts of samples have to be tested, manipulated and stored. The samples are often stored in so-called microtiter-plates, which comprise a plurality of fine receiving recesses for the samples. Microtiter-plates have, as rule, a standardised size with a footprint of approximately 127.76 millimetres×85.48 millimetres (each +/−0.5 millimetres) according to standard ANSI/SBS 1-2004, Jan., 8, 2004, “for microplates—Footprint Dimensions”, and a plurality of devices have been provided for storing such plates or similar laboratory objects, such as so-called laboratory flasks.

EP 1 332 987 describes a storage device with a storage alley with two shelf racks arranged along the storage alley and a shelf access device displaceable along the storage alley. The shelf access device comprises a pickup device that is adjustable in height and extendible, by means of which laboratory objects stored in the shelf racks can be picked up. Such an apparatus is costly in production and operation.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object to improve the cost efficiency of such a device.

This object is achieved by the storage device of claim 1.

According to the claims the shelf rack or shelf racks are designed such that they can receive several laboratory objects behind each other. By means of this, the storage capacity is increased strongly while the space requirements are increased only slightly, such that the costs per laboratory object are decreased.

Preferably the pickup device is designed such that it is able to simultaneously pick up several laboratory objects arranged behind each other and to bring them into a temporary storage position. From there a desired laboratory object can be extracted by a separating device or an additional laboratory object can be added to the other laboratory objects. Then the pickup device can put the objects back into the shelf rack. This allows, with a simple apparatus, to access each individual laboratory object as desired. The separating device can, alternatively or in addition, also be used to remove a cover resting on a laboratory object or to place such a cover onto the laboratory object. This is in particular advantageous when using microtiter-plates with covers.

In an especially simple system the shelf racks comprise storage positions for receiving several storage objects behind each other. Each storage position comprises two supports arranged parallel to each other and at the same height, for receiving opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects directly. The pickup device can be inserted into the gap between the supports and lift all laboratory objects in the storage position simultaneously from below (or deposit them). This solution obviates the need to provide a drawer or such for the laboratory objects.

The invention also relates to a climate controlled cabinet with such a storage device.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention are given in the dependent claims and in the now following description referring to the figures. These show

FIG. 1 a view of a climate controlled cabinet with the storage device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 a schematic, horizontal sectional view of the climate controlled cabinet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 an embodiment of the storage device, wherein only four of the storage racks are shown,

FIG. 4 a detailed view of the pickup device,

FIG. 5 a part of a storage rack,

FIG. 6 a view of a transparently drawn storage rack,

FIG. 7 an enlarged view of a transparently shown storage rack and

FIG. 8 a second embodiment of the pickup device.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The climate controlled cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a housing 1, in whose interior space a control unit 3 with control and climate generator and a storage device are arranged. The storage device comprises two shelf racks 4, which are arranged on both sides of a storage alley 5. A shelf access device 6 is running in the storage alley 5, by means of which all laboratory objects in the shelf racks 4 can be accessed automatically.

At one end of the climate controlled cabinet, in the extension of the storage alley 5, a transfer station 7 is arranged. It serves to temporarily receive individual laboratory objects during transfer between the pickup device 17 of the shelf access device 6 and an outer transport system. The transfer station 7 consists e.g. of a support table mounted to a wall 10a of the climate controlled cabinet for receiving the storage objects and is arranged at an automatic door 8 in the wall 10a of the storage cabinet. The size of the automatic door 8 corresponds approximately to the size of the laboratory objects to be transported, such that losses in climate while opening the door 8 can remain small.

The automatic door 8 can also be arranged in the wall 10c opposite to wall 10a.

At the end of the storage cabinet opposite to the automatic door 8, in a second wall 10b parallel to the storage alley 5, a further access door 11 is provided. By means of this door, which opens outwardly, the user can gain access to the climate controlled cabinet. The door leads to a antechamber 13, which is formed between the shelf racks 4 and the third wall 10c opposite to the shelf racks 4. The control unit 3 is arranged in this antechamber 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the access door 11 is arranged in the second wall 10b. Alternatively or in addition thereto the door can also be arranged in a wall extending transversely to the storage alley 5, i.e. in the first wall 10a or in the third wall 10c opposite to first wall 10a, advantageously in the extension of the storage alley 5, as it is shown in dashed lines with reference numbers 11′ and 11″ in FIG. 2. If the access door is arranged in position 11″ in the first wall 10a, the automatic door 8 is advantageously arranged in the access door.

The design of the storage device can best be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4. As mentioned, it has two shelf racks 4 along the storage alley 5. The shelf access device 6 comprises a horizontal guide 15 in the shape of a horizontal profile track, which is arranged parallel to the storage alley 5 in the roof section of the climate controlled cabinet. A vertical guide 16 in the shape of a vertical profile track is guided on the horizontal guide 15. The vertical guide 16 is arranged on the horizontal guide 15 and extends downwards from the same. Optionally, a further horizontal auxiliary guide can be provided at the bottom end of the vertical guide 16. A pickup device 17 is mounted to the vertical guide 16.

A horizontal drive 18 mounted to the upper end of the vertical guide 16 serves to move the vertical guide 16 along the horizontal guide 15 and drives a gear, which engages a cograil 19 in the horizontal guide 15. A vertical drive 20 (rear part 23 in FIG. 4 hidden) connected to the pickup device 17 serves to move the pickup device 17 along the vertical guide 16 and drives a gear that engages a cograil 21 in the vertical guide 16.

A vertical column 23 is provided for holding the pickup device 17 and is connected at its bottom end to a horizontal holding arm 24. An elongate table 25 is mounted to the end of the holding arm 24 opposite to column 23. The table 25 can be pivoted in respect to the holding arm 24 about a vertical axis A. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the axis A is approximately in the centre of the storage alley. A pivoting drive 27 serves to pivot the table 25 in respect to the holding arm 24 (and therefore in respect to the vertical guide 16) about the axis A.

An elongate carrier 26 is arranged on the table 25 and displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the table. An extension drive 28 is provided on the table 25 for moving the carrier 26. Table 25 and carrier 26 form, together, the pickup device 17, which is pivotal about axis A and extendable along an extension direction X.

Furthermore, a separating device 30 is arranged on the column 23. The separating device 30 can be displaced vertically along column 23 by means of a first separating drive 31. It comprises a gripper 32 for laterally gripping the laboratory object. The gripper 32 comprises at least two, preferably four, fingers 33a-33d extending downwards, which can be horizontally moved against each other by means of a second separating drive 34.

The separating device 30 is arranged, as seen along the storage alley 5, either in front of or behind the pivoting axis A.

The pickup device 17 can be pivoted, by means of the pivotal drive 28, into three positions. In a transfer position, which is shown in FIG. 3, it can be extended parallel to the storage alley 5. In this position the slightly extended carrier 26 is below the separating device 30. Depending on how far the carrier 26 is horizontally extended, each of the laboratory objects 40 on the carrier 26 can be brought into the operating range of the separating device 30. The separating device can be lowered vertically onto such a laboratory object 40, such that it can laterally engage the laboratory object 40 with the grippers 32 and lift it. Also it can deposit, in this manner, a laboratory object onto a free space on the carrier 26.

In the transfer position the pickup device 17 can also transfer laboratory objects and/or covers through the door 8 to the transfer station 7 or pick them up from the same.

Starting from the transfer position the pickup device 17 can, as shown by a double arrow in FIG. 2, be pivoted to the left or to the right, in each direction by about 90°, into an exchange position, in each of which it can be extended towards one of the shelf racks 4. FIG. 4 shows the pickup device 17 in the exchange position. In this position the pickup device 17 can deposit laboratory objects on the shelf racks 4 or receive them from the same in the manner described below.

A second embodiment of the pickup device 17 is shown in FIG. 8. It differs from the first embodiment by the fact that the separating device 30 is not stationery with respect to the holding arm 24, but stationary in respect to table 25, i.e. it can be pivoted together with the table 25. For this purpose a column 35 with a vertical cograil 35a is arranged on the table 25. The gear of the vertically displaceable first separating drive 31 engages the cograil 35a. A carrier arm 36 is mounted on the first separating drive 31 and carries the gripper 32. The gripper 32 is designed in substantially the same manner as the gripper of the first embodiment.

The method of operation of the embodiment of FIG. 8 substantially corresponds to the of to FIG. 4, since the gripper 32 can be lowered from above onto the carrier 26 for receiving therefrom a laboratory object or a cover or for depositing it there. Since the separating device 30 can be pivoted together with the table 25, the embodiment of FIG. 8 has, however, the advantage that the separating device 30 can access the laboratory objects on the carrier 26 in each pivotal position, which allows a quicker processing of orders.

The design of the shelf racks 4 is best seen in FIG. 3. Each shelf rack comprises a frame 39 with, in the present embodiment, three shelves 41. The horizontal guide 15 is mounted to the topmost shelf 41 of one of the shelf racks. The two bottommost shelves 41 of each shelf rack 4 receive storage racks 42, only four of which are shown in FIG. 3. Each storage rack 42 has two vertical lateral walls 43, which are connected to each other at their top and bottom edges by means of horizontal plates 44.

A part of a storage rack 42 is shown in FIG. 5. As can be seen therefrom, inwards extending ribs are provided on the lateral walls 43 at regular intervals, which form supports 45 for the laboratory objects 40 to be received. Each laboratory object 40 is inserted into the storage rack 42 in such a manner that opposite lower edge regions of the laboratory object are each supported by one support or rib 45. Thus, each storage rack 42 has a vertical row of storage positions 47 defined by the ribs 45. The depth of the storage rack 42 is such that in each storage position 47 several laboratory objects find room behind each other. The width and height of the storage positions 47 is adapted to the dimensions of the respective laboratory objects to be received.

The storage racks 42 are self-supporting units, and each storage rack can, with any laboratory object stored therein, be withdrawn as a whole from the storage device or climate controlled cabinet.

A gap 46 is provided between the opposite supports or ribs 45, which is broader than the extendable carrier 26. The bottom side of the laboratory objects 40 can be freely accessed in the region of this gap 46. To pick up the laboratory objects, the pickup device or the carrier 26 can be extended into the gap 46.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a specific embodiment of a storage rack 42. FIG. 6 in particular shows three laboratory objects 40 or microtiter-plates arranged behind each other, which rest on three storage locations behind each other on the supports or ribs 45. In order to hold laboratory objects 40 in longitudinal direction of the storage position 47 in defined manner and to prevent them from shifting, each storage location comprises holding means 50, by means of which the respective laboratory object can be held in longitudinal direction of the storage position 47. The holding means 50 are formed, in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, by projections, which extend upwards from the supports 45. The projections are upwardly bent tongues of the sheet metal support 45.

The function of the described device is as follows:

In order to withdraw a given laboratory object from a known position in the shelf racks 4 of the storage device, the pickup device 17 is pivoted into the exchange position and horizontally and vertically displaced in such a manner that it is located in front of the storage position 47 of the given laboratory object, namely such that the upper side of the carrier 26 is somewhat lower than the bottom side of the laboratory object. Then, the carrier 26 is extended into the shelf rack 4 and lifted, by means of the vertical drive 20, until it enters the gap 46 and lifts all of the laboratory objects arranged behind each other on the ribs 45 of the respective storage position 47. Now the carrier 26 is again retracted and the pickup device 17 is pivoted into the transfer position. In this intermediate storage position the carrier 26 is extended so far that the laboratory object 40 to be withdrawn comes to lie exactly below the separating device 30. Now the separating device 30 is lowered, engages the laboratory object 40 and lifts the same. After having removed the desired laboratory object 40 in this manner from the pickup device 17, the pickup device 17 is pivoted back to the exchange position, extended into the shelf rack and lowered somewhat, such that the remaining laboratory objects are again deposited in their storage position 47. The now empty carrier 26 is retracted, pivoted into the transfer position and extended so far that its end region lies below the separating device 30. The separating device is again lowered and releases the previously withdrawn laboratory object 40 onto the carrier 26. Now the pickup device 17 can be driven to the door 8. The door 8 is opened and the carrier 26 is extended and lowered such that it deposits the laboratory object in the transfer position 7.

To deposit an individual laboratory object 40 at a given position in the shelf racks 4, the reverse process is used. The pickup device 17 drives to the door 8, the carrier 26 is extended and lifts the laboratory object 40 furnished at the transfer position 7. The carrier 26 is retracted. The laboratory object 40 is brought into the region of access of the separating device 30, which removes it from carrier 26. The pickup device 17 is driven to the desired storage position 47 and pivoted to the exchange position. The carrier 26 extends, lifts the laboratory objects already present in the storage position 47, retracts and pivots to the transfer position. It is extended horizontally so far that a free space of the table comes to rest below the separating device 30, whereupon the separating device 30 deposits the new laboratory object there. Then all laboratory objects on the carrier 26 are placed back into the shelf rack, for which purpose the carrier 26 pivots back into the exchange position, extends, is lowered, and deposits the laboratory objects 40 on the supports or ribs 45. Then the carrier 26 is again retracted.

In order to reach a higher transfer capacity, it is also possible to handle several laboratory objects 40 at the same time on table 25. For example the carrier 26 can withdraw three laboratory objects behind each other from a shelf rack position and bring them, together, to the transfer position 7, where the laboratory objects are taken over or handled together. In opposite manner several storage objects can be brought from the transfer position 7 in a single working step, together, to a storage position and deposited there behind each other.

It is further possible, that the separating device 30 is able to temporarily store several laboratory objects at the same time. For example, it can pick up several laboratory objects, which are then received by the transfer position 7. For this purpose the transfer position must be provided by means for directly receiving the laboratory objects from the separating device 30.

The device shown here can be adapted in various manner to the respective requirements.

For example, a single shelf rack arranged along the storage alley 5 can be used instead of two shelf racks 4.

If different types of laboratory objects are to be stored, different storage racks with correspondingly sized storage positions can be provided.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it is to be distinctly pointed out that the invention is not limited thereto and can also be carried out in different manner within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Automatic storage device for laboratory objects, in particular microtiter plates, with

at least one shelf rack arranged along a storage alleys for receiving the laboratory objects above and beside each other and

a shelf access device, which can be displaced along the storage alley and which comprises a pickup device adjustable in height and extendable for receiving and depositing laboratory objects from the or into the shelf rack,

wherein the shelf rack is designed for receiving several storage objects behind each other.

3. Storage device of claim 2 wherein the separating device is displaceable vertically in respect to the temporary storage position.

4. Storage device of claim 3 wherein the separating device comprises a gripper, which can be lowered onto the temporary storage position and by means of which a laboratory object can be engaged laterally.

5. Storage device of claim 4 wherein the gripper comprises at least two fingers, which can be moved substantially horizontally in respect to each other for laterally engaging the laboratory object and/or a cover resting on the laboratory object.

6. Storage device of any claim 2, wherein it is designed to withdraw an individual laboratory object from the shelf racks by picking up several laboratory objects arranged behind each other by means of the pickup device, extracting a selected laboratory object from the pickup device by means of the separating device, putting back the remaining laboratory objects by means of the pickup device into the shelf racks, and moving the selected laboratory object from the separating device onto the pickup device.

7. Storage device of any of claim 2, wherein it is designed to deposit an individual laboratory object from the pickup device into the shelf racks by removing the individual laboratory object from the pickup device by means of the separating device, withdrawing several laboratory objects arranged behind each other from the shelf racks by means of the pickup device, moving the individual laboratory object from the separating device to the remaining laboratory objects on the pickup device, and moving all laboratory objects from the pickup device into the shelf racks.

8. Storage device of claim 2 wherein each laboratory object picked up by the pickup device can be brought into an operating range of the separating device by horizontal displacement of the pickup device.

9. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the pickup device is pivotal about a vertical axis between at least one exchange position and at least one transfer position, wherein the pickup device is extendable in the exchange position towards the at least one shelf rack and in the transfer position parallel to the storage alley.

10. Storage device of claim 4, wherein the pickup device is pivotal about a vertical axis between at least one exchange position and at least one transfer position, wherein the pickup device is extendable in the exchange position towards the at least one shelf rack and in the transfer position parallel to the storage alley, and wherein the laboratory objects on the pickup device can be brought into an operating range of the separating device when the pickup device is in the transfer position.

11. Storage device of claim 1 with

a horizontal guide

a vertical guide guided on the horizontal guide, wherein the pickup device is guided on the vertical guide,

a longitudinal drive for displacing the vertical guide along the horizontal guide and

a vertical drive for displacing the pickup device along the vertical guide.

12. Storage device of claim 11 with a pivotal drive for pivoting the pickup device in respect to the vertical guide.

13. Storage device of claim 11 wherein the vertical guide extends downwards from the horizontal guide.

14. Storage device of claim 11, wherein the pickup device is designed to simultaneously pick up several laboratory objects arranged behind each other and to bring them into a temporary storage position, and wherein the shelf access device comprises a separating device for withdrawing a laboratory object from the temporary storage position and/or inserting it into the temporary storage position, and wherein the separating device is pivotal together with the pickup device.

15. Storage device of claim 1 wherein the shelf racks comprise storage positions for receiving several laboratory objects behind each other, wherein each storage position comprises two supports extending parallel to each other and at the same height, onto which opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects in the storage position can be placed directly, and wherein the pickup device can be inserted into a gap between the supports for directly engaging all laboratory objects of the storage position from below.

16. Storage device of claim 15, wherein the pickup device comprises an extendable carrier, whose width is smaller than the distance between the supports of the storage position.

17. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the shelf racks comprise storage positions with several storage locations behind each other, wherein each storage location is designed for receiving one laboratory object, and holder means, by means of which the respective storage object can be held in a longitudinal direction of the storage position.

18. Storage device of claim 17 wherein the projections are formed by upwards bent parts of the supports.

19. Storage device of claim 1, wherein at one end of the storage alley a transfer station is arranged for temporarily receiving individual laboratory objects during a transfer between the pickup device and an external transport system.

20. Storage device of claim 1, wherein shelf racks are arranged on both sides of the storage alley.

21. Storage device of claim 1, wherein the shelf racks are formed by storage racks, wherein each storage rack comprises several storage positions arranged above each other, wherein each storage position offers room for several laboratory objects behind each other, and wherein each storage rack can be withdrawn, with the laboratory objects arranged therein, as a whole from the storage device.

22. Storage device of claim 21, wherein each storage rack comprises exactly one vertical row of the storage positions.

23. Climate controlled cabinet with a storage device of claim 1.

24. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 23, wherein the cabinet comprises a first door for an automatic transfer of laboratory objects as well as a second door for users.

25. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 24, wherein the first door is arranged in a first wall at the end of the storage alley and the second door is arranged in a second wall parallel to the storage alley at an end of the second wall opposite to the first wall.

26. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 24, wherein the second door is arranged in a wall extending transversally to the storage alley.

27. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 26, wherein the first door is arranged in the second door.

28. Climate controlled cabinet of claim 25, wherein the second door can be opened inwards.

29. The storage device of claim 17 wherein each storage position comprises two supports extending parallel to each other at the same height, onto which opposite edge regions of the laboratory objects in the storage position can be rested, and wherein the holder means are formed by projections, which extend upwards from the supports.