초록 ▼

First and second shelf sections are positioned side by side in an outer frame having front left and right doors. The first self section is fixed to a rear wall of the outer frame, and the second shelf section is secured to the front left and right doors. By opening the front left and right doors, ac

First and second shelf sections are positioned side by side in an outer frame having front left and right doors. The first self section is fixed to a rear wall of the outer frame, and the second shelf section is secured to the front left and right doors. By opening the front left and right doors, access to the first self section is facilitated for storing a plurality of racks therein, the racks holding sample containers. A transfer section is movable along a linear space defined between the first and second shelf sections. The transfer section includes a pair of rack pull-out mechanisms each for pulling out each rack stored in the shelf sections. A repacking mechanism including a picker mechanism is provided on the transfer section for moving a sample container from the rack on the first rack pull-out mechanism to a rack on the other rack pull-out mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers held in racks, comprising: an outer frame having a rear wall, a front side formed with a front opening, and a front door pivotally movably secured to the front side for opening and closing the front opening; a first sh

What is claimed is: 1. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers held in racks, comprising: an outer frame having a rear wall, a front side formed with a front opening, and a front door pivotally movably secured to the front side for opening and closing the front opening; a first shelf section positioned in the outer frame and supported by the rear wall for storing a plurality of racks in which a plurality of sample containers are installable; a second shelf section positioned in the outer frame and secured to the front door for storing a plurality of racks in which a plurality of sample containers are installable, the second shelf section being pivotally movable to take a first position and a second position, the second shelf section being disposed side by side with the first shelf section having a space therebetween when the second shelf section takes the first position, and the second shelf section being disposed substantially perpendicular to the first shelf section when the second shelf section takes the second position, the sample containers held in the racks being stored in the first and the second shelf sections when the second shelf is in the second position; a transfer section movable in the space and comprising a rack pull-out mechanism for pulling out the rack from either one of the first and second shelf sections, maintaining the pulled-out rack on the rack pull-out mechanism and returning the pulled-out rack to one of the first and second shelf sections, the pulling out and returning the rack being performed when the second shelf section is at the first position, wherein the transfer section comprises a horizontally moving member movable along the space and a base connected to the horizontally moving member and vertically movable along the horizontally moving member, the rack pull-out mechanism being disposed on the base; and a control section connected to the transfer section managing operations thereof and managing position data of the racks and sample containers. 2. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a repacking mechanism provided on the transfer section for moving at least one sample container from a first position on the rack to a second position on the identical or different rack held on the rack pull-out mechanism, the control section being also connected to the repacking mechanism for managing operation thereof. 3. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rack pull-out mechanism comprises: a left pull-out mechanism disposed on the base and accessible to a first rack stored in one of the first and second shelf sections; and a right pull-out mechanism disposed on the base and beside the left pull-out mechanism in the lengthwise direction of the space, the right pull-out mechanism being accessible to a second rack stored in one of the first and second shelf sections, whereby two racks are positioned side by side while being held on the left pull-out mechanism and the right pull-out mechanism, respectively. 4. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the repacking mechanism comprises: a support rod positioned on the base and movable in a frontward/rearward direction of the frame, the support rod extending in the lengthwise direction of the space over the left pull-out mechanism and the right pull-out mechanism; and a picker mechanism supported on the support rod and movable therealong, the picker mechanism being also movable in the vertical direction and having an arm for holding the sample container supported by the rack on one of the left and right pull-out mechanisms. 5. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front door comprises a left front door, and a right front door, the second shelf section being divided into left shelf section secured to the left front door and a right shelf section secured to the right front door. 6. The automatic storage system of claim 1 further comprising: a vertical rod with one end attached to the transfer section supporting a repacking mechanism. 7. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rack is formed with a bar code for identification, the automatic storage system further comprising: a bar code reader disposed at the transfer section and connected to the control section for reading each bar code and transmitting data of position of each rack on the first and second shelf sections. 8. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of racks comprise: a first plurality of racks for setting therein the sample containers for storage in the first and second shelf sections; and a second plurality of racks serving as receptacle racks for collecting therein the sample containers from the first plurality of racks, the second plurality of racks being also storable in the first and second shelf sections. 9. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature control device disposed in the outer frame. 10. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer frame is formed with a plurality of venting perforations. 11. The automatic storage system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising casters provided at a bottom of the outer frame. 12. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers as defined in claim 1, wherein the second shelf section is divided into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being secured to move pivotally in one direction and the second portion being secured to move pivotally in an opposite direction. 13. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers, comprising: a plurality of racks each adapted to hold a plurality of sample containers, the racks including at least a first rack which holds a sample container to be stored and a second rack which has a vacant position to receive a sample container; a first shelf section for storing the racks, extending in at least one direction; a second shelf section placed extending along the first shelf section with a space therebetween and being movable to take a first position and a second position, the racks including the first rack and the second rack being stored in at least one of the first and the second shelf section when the second shelf section is at the second position; a transfer mechanism movable in the space between the first and the second shelf sections and having a first handling means and a second handling means, the transfer mechanism pulling out the first and the second racks by using the first handling means from at least one of the first and the second shelf section and transferring the sample container from the first rack to the second rack by using the second handling means when the second shelf section is at the second position, wherein the first handling means and second handling means are disposed on a common vertically movable base with the second handling means supported by a rod having one end connected to the common vertically movable base; and a control section connected to the transfer mechanism managing operations thereof and managing position data of the racks and the sample containers. 14. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers as defined in claim 13, wherein the second shelf section is movable to take the first position at which the second shelf section is disposed in parallel with the first shelf section and the second position at which the second shelf section is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first shelf section. 15. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers as defined in claim 13, wherein the first handling means of the transfer mechanism comprises a first rack handling means to place the first rack on a base and a second rack handling means to place the second rack on the base. 16. An automatic storage system for storing sample containers, comprising: a plurality of racks each adapted to hold a plurality of sample containers, the racks including at least a first rack which holds a sample container to be stored and a second rack which has a vacant position to receive a sample container; a first shelf section for storing the racks, extending in at least one direction; a second shelf section placed extending along the first shelf section with a space therebetween and being movable to take a first position and a second position, the racks including the first rack and the second rack being stored in at least one of the first and the second shelf section when the second shelf section is at the second position; a transfer mechanism movable in the space between the first and the second shelf sections and having a pull-out mechanism and a repacking mechanism, the transfer mechanism pulling out the first and the second racks by using the pull-out mechanism from at least one of the first and the second shelf section and transferring the sample container from the first rack to the second rack by using the repacking mechanism, wherein the pull-out mechanism and the repacking mechanism are disposed on a common vertically movable base with the repacking mechanism supported by a rod having one end connected to the common vertically movable base; and a control section connected to the transfer mechanism managing operations thereof and managing position data of the racks and the sample containers.