Accommodating magazine
An accommodating magazine for accommodating a plurality of sample carriers in a sample holder for use in an input or output area of an automated sample handling device. The magazine comprises a magazine panel, a detection device for detecting whether the panel is filled with sample holders or sample carriers during movement of the panel between a loading position and a ready position. The detection device includes at least one contactless detector for detecting the presence of objects in a sensor area, a path sensor, which detects a displacement path or current position of the panel during displacement of the panel between the loading and ready positions; and an evaluating unit in which the detector data and the path sensor data are merged and are evaluated.
1. An accommodating magazine for accommodating a plurality of sample carriers in at least one sample holder equipped to accommodate several such sample carriers for the automated handling of individual sample carriers of such a type, wherein the accommodating magazine comprises the following:
a magazine panel, which is displaceable essentially horizontally, like a drawer, between a ready position, in which the accommodating magazine is ready for automated handling of the individual sample carriers, and a loading position, in which sampling carriers or sample holders is manually introducible or retrievable, and the at least one sample holder is or can be disposed on said magazine panel, characterized by a load detection device for detecting a load of the magazine panel with sample holder(s) or sample carriers in the movement of the magazine panel between the loading position and the ready position, comprising the following components:
a) at least one detector, which operates without contact for detecting the presence of objects in a sensor region, which is disposed in a path of movement of sample holders or sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel, such that the detector detects sample holders or sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel and passing by its sensor region;
b) a displacement sensor, which detects a displacement or a current position of the magazine panel upon displacement of same between the loading position and the ready position, and
c) an evaluation unit, in which the data of the detector and of the displacement sensor are combined and evaluated with regard to the presence of at least one sample holder or sample carrier in correlation with a certain path position of the displacement; wherein the evaluation unit is equipped for recording a height profile of sample carriers and sample holders which are detected by detectors disposed vertically one above the other, the sample holders and sample carriers being disposed on the magazine panel.
2. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the detector, which operates without contact, is a photoelectric barrier.
3. The accommodating magazine according to claim 2 , wherein the detector, which operates without contact, is a transmission photoelectric barrier.
4. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is an incremental sensor.
5. The accommodating magazine according to claim 4 , wherein the displacement sensor detects optically or magnetically.
6. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodating magazine has at least two non-contact detectors disposed vertically one above the other in a detection region, disposed at positions, by which sample holders and sample carriers that are disposed on the magazine panel pass in projection thereof in displacement of the magazine panel.
7. The accommodating magazine according to claim 6 , wherein the accommodating magazine has a plurality of, non-contact detectors disposed vertically one above the other in the detection region.
8. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit is equipped for output of an alarm signal when, in deviation from a predetermined stipulation of a certain position in correlation, a sample holder or a sample carrier is detected or is not detected.
9. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the sample carriers are cylindrical and elongated along a longitudinal axis.
10. The accommodating magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sample holder is equipped to accommodate several such sample carriers for the automated retrieval from or insertion into the sample holders.
11. The accommodating magazine as defined in claim 1 , wherein the magazine is for use in an input region or an output region of an automated sample handling system.
12. A method for monitoring for the presence of essentially cylindrical sample carriers or sample holders that are elongated along a longitudinal axis to accommodate such sample carriers on a magazine panel of an accommodating magazine that is displaceable essentially horizontally, like a drawer, between a ready position and a loading position, for accommodating a plurality of such sample carriers in at least one sample holder, wherein sample holders or sample carriers passing by the sensor region in displacement of the magazine panel are detected by means of at least one detector operating without contact for detecting the presence and height of objects in a sensor region, wherein also, by means of a displacement sensor, the displacement distance of the magazine panel in its displacement is detected and wherein the displacement distance and the detection by the detector are correlated in such a way that a distance position at which the presence of a sample holder or sample carrier is detected is linked to the detection signal of the sample holder or sample carrier thereby detected, to form a data record.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein a projection profile of the sample holders or sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel is recorded by two or more detectors during displacement of the magazine panel and this result is correlated with the position of the magazine panel detected by the displacement sensor along the displacement distance.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein a projection profile of the sample holders disposed on the magazine panel is recorded, and on the basis of the geometric dimensions of the projection profile of a known projection of a sample holder and comparison of these dimensions with known dimensions of various types of sample holders that are disposable on the magazine profile, the type of this sample holder is determined.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein a projection profile of the sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel is recorded and, on the basis of the geometric dimensions of the projection profile of a recognized projection of a sample carrier and comparison of these dimensions with known dimensions of various types of sample carriers that are disposable on the magazine panel, the type of this sample carrier is determined.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein an alarm is output in the unexpected presence or absence of a sample holder or a sample carrier in comparison with a stipulation.
17. An accommodating magazine for accommodating a plurality of sample carriers in at least one sample holder equipped to accommodate several such sample carriers for the automated handling of individual sample carriers of such a type, wherein the accommodating magazine comprises the following:
a magazine panel, which is displaceable essentially horizontally, like a drawer, between a ready position, in which the accommodating magazine is ready for automated handling of the individual sample carriers, and a loading position, in which sampling carriers or sample holders is manually introducible or retrievable, and the at least one sample holder is or can be disposed on said magazine panel, characterized by a load detection device for detecting a load of the magazine panel with sample holder(s) or sample carriers in the movement of the magazine panel between the loading position and the ready position, comprising the following components:
a) at least one detector, which operates without contact for detecting the presence of objects in a sensor region, which is disposed in a path of movement of sample holders or sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel, such that the detector detects sample holders or sample carriers disposed on the magazine panel and passing by its sensor region;
b) a displacement sensor, which detects a displacement or a current position of the magazine panel upon displacement of same between the loading position and the ready position, and
c) an evaluation unit, in which the data of the detector and of the displacement sensor are combined and evaluated with regard to the presence of at least one sample holder or sample carrier in correlation with a certain path position of the displacement; and
wherein the sample holders contain receptacles to receive individual sample carriers arranged in vertical lines and columns.