Automated system for storing, retrieving and managing samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020333364-A1
Application number	US-202016917523-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2020
Priority date	Jan 23, 2006
Publication date	Oct 22, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane.

First claim

1 . A storage system for storing a plurality of samples in a plurality of trays, the system comprising:
a cold storage compartment having a plurality of vertical tray support racks; a tray shuttle compartment adjacent to the storage compartment an insulating wall separating the cold storage compartment and the tray shuttle compartment and insulating the cold storage compartment and plurality of vertical support racks therein from the tray shuttle compartment, the insulating wall comprising stacks of multiple separable bricks that front and close the insulating wall, and are slidably stacked in wall guides so as to slide freely to a closed position, each brick being sized and shaped commensurate with and to provide access to at least one corresponding vertical tray support rack through the insulation wall with the brick slid to an open position, and each brick has a brick lifting interface on a front face of the brick; a tray shuttle disposed within the tray shuttle compartment, the tray shuttle comprising a transport configured for translating horizontally and/or vertically within the tray shuttle compartment and accessing the at least one tray support rack for transferring a tray of interest through the insulation wall, where the tray shuttle is sized and shaped so that each tray support rack of the cold storage compartment is independently accessible by the tray shuttle through access effected by the corresponding brick slid to the open position; and a brick lifting mechanism arranged so as to traverse the tray shuttle compartment relative to the front of the insulating wall along and across the stacks of bricks, the brick lifting mechanism having a complementing lifting interface that fits against and engages the brick lifting interface of the corresponding brick so as to lift the brick in the guides to the open position effecting access to the at least one tray support rack.

Assignees

• Brooks Automation Inc

Inventors

• Neeper Robert K
• Affleck Rhett L
• Lillig John E

Classifications

• B65G1/0435

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title

• B65G1/127 Primary

  the circuit being confined in a vertical plane · CPC title

• G01N2035/00316

  Detecting door closure · CPC title

• G01N2035/0403

  Sample carriers with closing or sealing means · CPC title

• Y10T436/11

  Automated chemical analysis · CPC title