Storage system, particularly with automatic insertion and retrieval
US6564120B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/45063
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A storage system particularly for storing biological materials such as blood, stem cells, and DNA includes a storage unit having at least three vertical sides, at least two of the three vertical sides each being provided with a plurality of individually accessible storage receptacles. A plurality of boxes or cassettes are removably disposed in respective ones of the storage receptacles. At least one robot mechanism is movable along a track section or path extending to the two vertical sides of the unit, the robot mechanism having a robotic arm for accessing the storage receptacles. A computer is operatively connected to the robot mechanism for controlling movement and access operations thereof and for registering the contents of the storage receptacles. Where the storage unit is disposed in a room, additional storage receptacles may be disposed in a rectangular array inside a wall of the room. The boxes or cassettes contain a multiplicity of vials at least some of which may be segmented, with a plurality of separable compartments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.