초록 ▼

A laboratory organizer unit includes an enclosed housing with a storage area containing a plurality of racks for storing specimen containers, the racks movable throughout the storage area to permit access to all of the racks from an opening in the upper end of the storage area. A robotic transfer ap

A laboratory organizer unit includes an enclosed housing with a storage area containing a plurality of racks for storing specimen containers, the racks movable throughout the storage area to permit access to all of the racks from an opening in the upper end of the storage area. A robotic transfer apparatus is operable to insert and retrieve specimen containers from selected racks in the storage area and move them between the storage area and a buffer area on the housing, as well as between the buffer area and a conveyor located adjacent the housing. The conveyor is of a type which transports specimen carriers having a specimen container therein, and the buffer area includes a rack for intermediate storage of specimen containers. The buffer area thereby permits the transfer apparatus to retrieve and load specimen containers on specimen carriers on the conveyor, while awaiting an appropriate rack to move into position in the storage area.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A laboratory organizer unit for inserting and retrieving specimen containers from a conveyor system, comprising:a housing having upper and lower ends, forward and rearward ends, and opposing sides;a storage area within the housing, including a rack for receiving and storing a plura

[ We claim:] [1.] A laboratory organizer unit for inserting and retrieving specimen containers from a conveyor system, comprising:a housing having upper and lower ends, forward and rearward ends, and opposing sides;a storage area within the housing, including a rack for receiving and storing a plurality of vertically oriented specimen containers;a buffer area on the housing, including a rack for receiving and storing a plurality of vertically oriented specimen containers;a conveyor site for receiving a conveyor track in a predetermined position relative to the housing; anda transfer apparatus for selectively moving a specimen container between the storage area and buffer area and between the buffer area and the conveyor site.