Modular sample store
A modular sample store including a storage area; a service area; a transfer area; a motorized robot with a lifting device and at least one platform; and a controller. The sample store service area includes one integrally formed cubic vat module and the sample store storage area includes at least one integrally formed cubic vat module. Each one of the aforementioned vat modules includes an essentially horizontal vat floor and four joining vat walls that are connected to the vat floor and that are leaving an open vat space. The modular sample store also includes upper side walls and a cover plate to close the sample store. Each vat floor and vat wall includes an outside liner and an inside liner, which outside and inside liners in each case are separated by a clearance. This clearance is essentially filled with a polymer foam material that provides fixation of the outside and inside liners to each other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to the thus integrally formed cubic vat module sandwich construction.
1 . A modular sample store comprising:
a storage area configured for holding a number of storage stacks, wherein each storage stack is configured to store at least one sample container therein;
a transfer area located above the storage area; and
a motorized robot;
wherein the motorized robot includes a lifting device for lifting storage stacks at least partially out of the storage areas in an essentially vertical or Z-direction and for lowering storage stacks into the storage area, and at least one platform that effects transport of the at least one sample container throughout the transfer area, the at least one platform includes a carrier, and the at least one platform is configured so as to move the carrier with only horizontal motion relative to the lifting device so that with only the carrier horizontal motion the carrier is configured to receive thereon the at least one sample container removed from the lifting device, and the motorized robot with the lifting device is configured to lift a selected storage stack so as to place the at least one sample container in the transfer area and to transport the at least one sample container within the transfer area.
2 . The modular sample store of claim 1 , further comprising a hood disposed in the transfer area over the storage area, and the motorized robot is configured to lift the selected storage stack into the hood.
3 . The modular sample store of claim 2 , wherein the hood is arranged so that the hood isolates the selected storage stack in the hood from an environment of the transfer area.
4 . The modular sample store of claim 2 , wherein the hood is arranged so that the hood is an insulated hood that thermally insulates the storage stack in the hood from a temperature of the transfer area.
5 . The modular sample store of claim 4 , wherein the motorized robot, when using the lifting device, is further configured to lower the selected storage stack into the storage area from the insulated hood.
6 . The modular sample store of claim 4 , wherein the carrier comprises a spatula, and the motorized robot, when using the lifting device, is configured to partially lift the selected storage stack into the insulated hood from the storage area and up to a level which is accessible by the spatula, wherein the motorized robot is further configured to move the spatula into the insulated hood and below a certain sample container of the at least one sample container, wherein the motorized robot, when using the lifting device, is configured to lower the selected storage stack, enabling the certain sample container to lay on the spatula, and wherein the motorized robot is further configured to move the certain sample container out of the selected storage stack with the spatula in a horizontal direction.
7 . The modular sample store of claim 6 , wherein the motorized robot, when using the lifting device, is configured to incrementally lower the selected storage stack with the lifting device so that the certain sample container is laid upon the spatula without contacting mutual storage webs of the selected storage stack that previously carried the sample container.
8 . The modular sample store of claim 6 , wherein the motorized robot is accomplished to move the selected sample container into and out of the selected storage stack in a horizontal direction.
9 . The modular sample store of claim 6 , wherein the motorized robot further comprises a Z-module for lifting the certain sample container from the spatula.
10 . The modular sample store of claim 1 , further comprising an interface unit located in the transfer area of the modular sample store, wherein the interface unit is configured to effect insertion and removal of sample containers to and from the modular sample store and the motorized robot is further configured to lower the selected storage stack into the interface unit.
11 . The modular sample store of claim 10 , wherein the interface unit includes an in/out stack for use as an intermediate storage space for sample containers.
12 . The modular sample store of claim 11 , wherein the in/out stack in the intermediate storage space are usable to adapt sample containers within the selected storage stack to an interface unit temperature of the interface unit.
13 . The modular sample store of claim 1 , wherein the two carriers are configured for setting the at least one sample container thereon.
14 . A method comprising:
providing a storage area, of a modular sample store, configured for holding number of storage stacks, wherein each storage stack is configured to store at least one sample container therein;
providing a transfer area located above the storage area;
providing a motorized robot that includes a lifting device for lifting storage stacks at least partially out of the storage areas in an essentially vertical or Z-direction and for lowering storage stacks into the storage area, and at least one platform that effects transport of the at least one sample container throughout the transfer area, where the at least one platform includes a carrier, and the at least one platform is configured so as to move the carrier with only horizontal motion relative to the lifting device so that with only the carrier horizontal motion the carrier is configured to receive thereon the at least one sample container removed from the lifting device; and
effecting lifting, with the lifting device, a selected storage stack so as to place the at least one sample container in the transfer area and transporting the at least one sample container within the transfer area.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising lifting, with the motorized robot, the selected storage stack into a hood disposed in the transfer area over the storage area.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the hood is arranged so that the hood isolates the selected storage stack in the hood from an environment of the transfer area.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the hood is arranged so that the hood is an insulated hood that thermally insulates the storage stack in the hood from a temperature of the transfer area.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising lowering, with the motorized robot, when using the lifting device, the selected storage stack into the storage area from the insulated hood.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising lowering, with the motorized robot, the selected storage stack into an interface unit located in the transfer area of the modular sample store where the interface unit is configured to effect insertion and removal of sample containers to and from the modular sample store.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sample container is set on the predetermined one of the two carriers.