Laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly

US8580195B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Rolf Frey · Ebikon, CH
• Fritz Goedl · Holzhäusern, CH
• Bruno Koch · Sankt Moritz, CH
• Joachim Lackner · Thalwil, CH
• Ueli Stettler · Baar, CH
• Beat Widmer · Steinhausen, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/114165
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.