Device and method for retrieving or replacing a tray within a storage compartment
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B65G-001/00
B65G-065/00
출원번호
UP-0925912
(2007-10-27)
등록번호
US-7635246
(2010-01-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Neeper, Robert K.
Affleck, Rhett L
Lillig, John E.
출원인 / 주소
Nexus Biosystems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
29인용 특허 :
37
초록▼
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
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.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for retrieving or replacing individually identified sample vials retained in a tray within a storage compartment, the storage compartment having a plurality of storage positions at horizontal and vertical locations within the compartment, the device comprising:
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for retrieving or replacing individually identified sample vials retained in a tray within a storage compartment, the storage compartment having a plurality of storage positions at horizontal and vertical locations within the compartment, the device comprising: a controller for generating commands to retrieve one or more vials of interest from a corresponding storage position in the storage compartment, and to replace one or more vials of interest to the storage compartment; a tray shuttle having a storage side adjacent the storage compartment and a load/unload side, wherein the tray shuttle is responsive to commands from the controller, the tray shuttle comprising: a tray shuttle frame extending along a width of the storage compartment; a tray support; a tray shuttle slide disposed on the tray shuttle frame for horizontal translation of the tray support across the width of the storage compartment, wherein, in response to a retrieve command to retrieve one or more vials of interest, the tray shuttle slide moves the tray support along the width of the storage compartment to a pre-determined storage location corresponding to a storage tray that contains the one or more vials of interest; a tray hook slidably disposed on the tray shuttle slide to traverse a length of the tray support between the storage side and the load/unload side, wherein, in response to the retrieve command, the tray hook rotates to extend from the tray support to engage a first tray end hook of the storage tray containing the one or more vials of interest and slides toward the load/unload side so that the storage tray is pulled away from the storage compartment, toward the load/unload side and onto a surface of the tray support; a vial selector module disposed at the load/unload side, comprising: a pick table disposed in an x-y plane for receiving and supporting the storage tray that contains the one or more vials of interest and a destination tray, wherein each of the storage tray and the destination tray have an open bottom through which vials are accessed; a pusher disposed below one of the storage tray and the destination tray, the pusher comprising a push rod adapted for raising and lowering the push rod through the open bottom in the one of the storage tray and the destination tray; a pick head disposed above the one of the storage tray and the destination tray, the pick head having at least one cavity for releasably retaining a vial of interest; one or more translators for translating the pick head and the pusher within the x-y plane to access the one or more vials of interest in the storage tray and all positions in the destination tray, wherein: if the one or more vials of interest are to be removed from the storage tray, the pick head and pusher are translated within the x-y plane until they are aligned with a position in the storage tray at which the one or more vials of interest are located and the push rod is raised to lift the one or more vials of interest from the storage tray by pushing upward through the open bottom of the storage tray until the one or more vials are supported within the at least one cavity, and if the one or more vials of interest are to be inserted into the destination tray, the pick head and pusher are aligned with a destination position in the destination tray and the push rod is raised through the open bottom of the destination tray then lowered to lower the vial of interest from the cavity into the destination tray; wherein the controller further generates commands to the tray shuttle to retrieve the storage tray after removal of the one or more vials of interest and return the storage tray to the pre-determined storage position, and to retrieve additional storage trays to select additional vials of interest to transfer the additional vials of interest to the destination tray; and an access door for removing the destination tray from the vial selector module. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tray hook is further operable, in response to an unload command, to rotate to disengage the first tray end hook, slide toward the storage side of the tray support, to rotate to engage a second tray end hook, to slide toward the load/unload side to push the storage tray away from the tray support and onto the unload location, and to rotate to disengage the second tray end hook to release the storage tray. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the tray shuttle slide comprises a gantry for further providing vertical motion. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the tray shuttle is enclosed within a temperature controlled compartment. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the vial selector module comprises an environmentally controlled enclosure. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the vial selector module further comprises a tracking device for detecting the identities of the one or more vials of interest and providing the detected identities to the controller. 7. A device for retrieving or replacing individually identified sample vials retained in a storage tray within a storage compartment, the storage compartment having a plurality of storage positions at horizontal and vertical locations within the compartment, the device comprising: a tray shuttle comprising: a tray shuttle compartment, the tray shuttle compartment having a storage side adjacent the storage compartment and a load/unload side; a tray shuttle frame extending along a width of the tray shuttle compartment; a tray shuttle comprising a tray support and a tray shuttle slide disposed on the tray shuttle frame for horizontal translation of the tray support across the tray shuttle frame to a pre-determined location of the storage tray containing a vial of interest; a tray hook slidably disposed on the tray shuttle slide; a tray hook motor disposed on the tray shuttle slide for rotating the tray hook clockwise or counterclockwise to engage or disengage a tray end hook of the storage tray; a drive assembly for sliding the tray hook and tray hook motor across a length of the tray support between the storage side and the load/unload side, wherein, when the tray hook is engaged with a first tray end hook, the drive assembly pulls the storage tray onto the tray support, and when the tray hook is engaged with a second tray end hook, the drive assembly pushes the storage tray away from the tray support; and a vial selector module disposed at the load/unload side of the tray shuttle compartment, the vial selector module comprising: a pick table disposed in an x-y plane for receiving and supporting the storage tray and a destination tray, wherein each of the storage tray and the destination tray have an open bottom; a pusher translatable within the x-y plane so that it is disposed below a plurality of vial-retention positions of one of the storage tray and the destination tray, the pusher comprising a vertically-movable push rod for raising and lowering the push rod through the open bottom in one of the storage tray and the destination tray; a pick head translatable within the x-y plane so that it is disposed above the plurality of vial-retention positions of one of the storage tray and the destination tray, the pick head having at least one cavity for releasably retaining the vial of interest; wherein, for removal of the one or more vials of interest from the storage tray, the pick head and pusher are translated within the x-y plane until they are both aligned with the vial-retention position in the storage tray at which the vial of interest is located and the push rod is raised to lift the vial of interest from the storage tray by pushing upward until the vial of interest is supported within the at least one cavity, after which the push rod is lowered, and for insertion of the vial of interest into the destination tray, the pick head and pusher are aligned with a destination position in the destination tray and the push rod is raised then lowered to lower the vial of interest from the cavity into destination position of the destination tray. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the tray shuttle slide comprises a gantry for further providing vertical motion. 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the tray shuttle is enclosed within a temperature controlled compartment. 10. The device of claim 7, wherein the vial selector module comprises an environmentally controlled enclosure. 11. The device of claim 7, wherein the vial selector module further comprises a tracking device for detecting the identities of the one or more vials of interest and providing the detected identities to a system controller.
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