초록 ▼

A holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a

A holding device for at least one object carrier, the object carrier being suitable to receive one or more organic and/or inorganic samples and comprising materials such as glass, plastic, silicon, pyrolytic graphite, and/or metal, this holding device being configured to be gripped by grippers of a robot. The holding device comprising two essentially parallel lengthwise walls and two essentially parallel transverse walls which extend substantially at right angles from the lengthwise walls. Holding devices according to preferred embodiments are constructed in a frame shape, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define a frame surrounding at least one opening which completely transverses the device. Holding devices according to further embodiments are constructed a plate shape, in that the region between the lengthwise walls and transverse walls is implemented as a carrying surface. All embodiments comprising gripping surfaces on the external surface profile of the lengthwise and transverse walls.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A frame shaped microplate system object carrier adapter, the adapter being adapted to receive at least one object carrier and comprising: two parallel lengthwise walls and two parallel transverse walls that extend at substantially right angles to the lengthwise walls, wherein

What is claimed is: 1. A frame shaped microplate system object carrier adapter, the adapter being adapted to receive at least one object carrier and comprising: two parallel lengthwise walls and two parallel transverse walls that extend at substantially right angles to the lengthwise walls, wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls define an essentially rectangular frame with a top portion and a bottom portion, with a region between the lengthwise and transverse walls being an opening which completely traverses the microplate system object carrier adapter, the microplate system object carrier adapter having the shape and external dimensions of a typical microplate; wherein the lengthwise and transverse walls have an offset on which at least part of an object carrier is adapted to be laid on, a mutual geometric relationships of the offset and the lengthwise and transverse walls defining the dimensions of at least one depression formed around the top portion of the adapter, each depression being shaped and sized to receive one object carrier in a position that is substantially parallel to said top portion, the object carrier having the dimensions of a slide for a light microscopy; and wherein the lengthwise or transverse walls comprise: (i) at least one stop portion formed on one side of the depression, and (ii) at least one spring element situated on a side of the depression opposite to the side with the stop portion, the spring element being adapted to directly abut a transverse or a lengthwise side of an inserted object carrier and to exert a spring force on the inserted object carrier, the spring force being directed in a direction that is substantially parallel and/or perpendicular to the surface of the inserted object carrier so as to urge an opposite edge of the object carrier directly against the stop portion. 2. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein said adapter is shaped so as to enable the object carrier adapter to be engaged by a microplate handling robot. 3. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the object carrier adapter comprises a stacking surface profile at the bottom portion of said lengthwise and transverse walls, which substantially corresponds to a stacking surface profile of a standard microplate for placement of the object carrier adapter in a microplate station of a sample analysis system, a sample processing system, and a sample storage system. 4. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate wall substantially parallel to the lengthwise or transverse walls. 5. The object carrier adapter according to claim 4, wherein at least one intermediate wall has an offset area for receiving at least part of an object carrier, the offset area, together with the stop portion and the spring element, defining the depth of the depression with respect to the top portion of the frame. 6. The object carrier adapter according to claim 3, wherein the stacking surface profile includes a stacking surface that extends substantially in a horizontal direction and that is interconnected to a substantially horizontal placement surface by a substantially vertical lower internal surface of said lengthwise and transverse walls. 7. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the object carrier adapter is manufactured from plastic. 8. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is produced in one piece with the object carrier adapter. 9. The object carrier adapter according to claim 8, wherein the at least one spring element is integrally molded with the object carrier adapter. 10. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein said lengthwise wall further comprises at least one grip opening configured for gripping an object carrier. 11. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein an external surface profile of said lengthwise and transverse walls of the frame includes: (i) an essentially horizontal stacking shoulder that is adjoined by an upper external surface; and (ii) a lower external surface that is adjoined by an essentially horizontal placement surface, wherein the upper and lower external surfaces extend in an essentially vertical direction and are interconnected by a step. 12. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the stop portion has a downward and inward slope. 13. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the object carrier adapter comprises at least two depressions, and wherein the depressions are formed on the same plane. 14. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the spring element is slanted toward the object carrier such that a spring force is exerted on the transverse or lengthwise edge of the object carrier, wherein the spring force comprises a horizontal component directed against the stop portion and a vertical component directed against an offset. 15. The object carrier adapter according to claim 5, wherein the upper end of the spring element is slanted toward the object carrier such that a spring force is exerted on the transverse or lengthwise edge of the object carrier, wherein the spring force comprises a horizontal component directed against the stop portion and a vertical component directed against an offset area. 16. The object carrier adapter according to claim 1, which is designed to hold within the same plane up to four object carriers, wherein these object carriers have essentially the same dimensions like object carriers for light microscopy.