Liconic Ag

Balzers Aktiegesellschaft

Kendro Laboratory Products Gmbh

Heraeus Instruments Gmbh

Tet Techno Investment Trust Settlement

Censor Ag

Cosmas G Malin

Johannes Edlinger

Peter Wierer

Harry L Sawatzki

Ilse Widmann

Manfred Kuster

Gunter Helwig

Jurg Gentsch

Philip Hoyle

A code scanner is provided for capturing visual codes at the bottom of a plurality of test tubes in a tube rack. The scanner comprises a base and a tube rack support mounted to the base for supporting a tube rack. At least one camera is focused on an object plane at the bottom of the tubes. A transparent cover glass is arranged between the camera and the object plane. The tube rack support has a viewing opening and, at several locations around the viewing opening, support members for laterally supporting the tube rack. The cover glass is located at a distance from and below the support members. Thus, it is less likely to acquire dirt and any dirt thereon will be out of the object plane of the imaging optics.

Code scanner for capturing codes on tubes in a tube rack

The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at several low temperatures, e.g., at −80° C. and at −110° C. The storage device includes a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed. The bottom section is divided into several, concentric storage zones, with the innermost, first storage zone being colder than the outer, second storage zone. A first insulating wall separates the two storage zones. This design reduces the thermal losses of the storage device. A refrigerant circuit with a non-inflammable cryo-liquid is provided for carrying off heat from the first storage zone.

High-efficiency low-temperature storage device

A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks includes a low-temperature compartment having insulated side and bottom walls and at least one opening at a top side. The compartment is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus comprising a rack holder for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus comprising a gripper adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by the holder. The holder apparatus is adapted to displace the rack holder between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment above the opening and a lower rack position inside the compartment. The picker apparatus is adapted to displace the gripper between an upper gripper position outside the compartment above the opening and a lower gripper position inside the compartment below the opening.

Device for the low-temperature storage and the handling of probe tubes in tube racks

A storage plant for storing objects at the temperature of liquid nitrogen comprises a plurality of storage tanks arranged in a cooled chamber. A nitrogen withdrawal apparatus is provided to carry off evaporated nitrogen directly from the storage tanks before it can enter the chamber. The pressure in the storage tanks is kept below the pressure in the chamber.

Low-temperature storage plant with a nitrogen withdrawal apparatus

An automated low-temperature storage for storing laboratory samples includes a storage zone for storing the samples that is maintainable at a first temperature below &#x2212;20&#xb0; C.; a handling zone located above the storage zone that is maintainable at a second temperature above the first temperature and below 0&#xb0; C.; a chamber laterally adjacent to the storage zone and the handling zone for storing the samples at a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature and below 0&#xb0; C.; and a vertical wall separating the chamber from the handling zone and storage zone. A first opening arranged in said vertical wall connects the handling zone and the chamber; and an automated transport device is arranged at least partially in the handling zone and is configured to move the samples between the storage zone, the handling zone, and the chamber.

Low-temperature automated storage for laboratory samples with automated access

The blood bank comprises a cooled storage area with a plurality of stationary storage racks. Further, it comprises a buffer storage, which holds a number of movable storage racks. A robot is provided for moving blood products between the stationary storage racks and the movable storage racks. A product access door is arranged close to the buffer storage for manual access to the blood products within the movable storage racks.

Automatic blood bank

The storage device is adapted to store a plurality of objects, such as sample tube holders, at low temperatures, e.g. at &#x2212;80&#xb0; C. It comprises a storage chamber with a plurality of storage cassettes arranged in its bottom section. A cassette lift in its top section can be used to lift individual storage cassettes up and to move them to an access opening, where the contents of the storage cassette can be accessed.

Low-temperature storage device with cassette handler

The storage comprises, from the bottom to the top, a low temperature storage zone, for storing the samples, a handling zone, housing at least part of an automatic transport device, and an access zone, where the user can enter for maintenance. A separating wall consisting of removable panels insulates the access zone, for the rooms below it. A peripheral housing, contains a peripheral chamber for temporarily storing the samples at slightly higher temperatures. A liquid nitrogen container, is used to feed dry gas to the storage zone and to maintain it under slight overpressure for preventing the entry of moisture.

A storage arrangement () has a chamber (). Several Dewar flasks () are arranged in the chamber () and above them a picking device (). The picking device has at least one cassette lift (), with which storage cassettes () can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks (). This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects even at very low temperatures. Each storage cassette () is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal is bent such that it forms the side walls (), the back wall (), the top part () and the base part () of the storage cassette (), as well as angles () to accommodate the laboratory objects.

Storage cassette for laboratory objects

The storage device comprises a storage chamber for storing objects at e.g. &#x2212;80&#xb0; C., a transfer chamber for intermediate object storage at e.g. &#x2212;20&#xb0; C. and a transport device arranged between them. The transport device comprises a pivotal and vertically displaceable carriage and is arranged in a rotatable lock chamber.

Low-temperature storage device with rotating lock chamber

A rotating holder to invert Petri dishes by 180&#xb0; and to loosen the bottom from the cover, which has two positions to accommodate Petri dishes. By inverting the rotating holder around a rotation axis, the Petri dishes are reversed and inverted in the two positions. Thus the bottom of the upper Petri dish will be lowered and be engaged by a gripper.

Device for the handling of petri dishes

A storage system () has a chamber (). In the chamber (), multiple storage tanks () are arranged, and a picking and placing device () is arranged above these tanks. Carrousels () are arranged in the storage tanks. These carrousels are suspended from a top pivot bearing () and laterally guided by a bottom pivot bearing (). The top pivot bearing () is located outside the insulation () of the storage tanks and is thus protected from extreme temperatures. In the carrousel (), storage cassettes () are arranged which are laterally held by guide elements ().

A device for storing and handling Petri dishes having a base with a base wall arranged on a circumference of the base, and a lid. The device includes a storage device structured and arranged for storing the Petri dishes in an upside-down orientation so that respective lids are oriented below their respective bases, an inspection device structured and arranged for automatic inspection of the Petri dishes without their respective lids, and a transfer device structured and arranged for transferring the Petri dishes between the storage device and the inspection device. The transfer device includes a gripper, with which a respective Petri dish without the lid can be grasped laterally on the base wall.

Device for storing and handling Petri dishes, storage device and storage slot for laboratory objects

The storage arrangement has a chamber. Several Dewar flasks are arranged in the chamber and above them a picking device. The picking device has at least one cassette lift, with which storage cassettes can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks. This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects at very low temperatures.

Storage system for storing laboratory objects at low temperatures

A climatic cabinet and storage cabinet that includes an upper zone, a lower zone, storage positions for storing objects in one of the upper and lower zone, and at least one temperature control unit structured and arranged to maintain a temperature in the one of the upper and lower zone different from the other of the upper and lower zone. The cabinet further includes a lock, a horizontal transport mechanism arranged at least in part in the other of the upper and lower zone to move the objects to and from the lock in a direction having a horizontal component, and a vertical transport mechanism structured and arranged to move the objects between the lower zone and the upper zone.

Growing community of inventors

Mauren, Liechtenstein

Cosmas G Malin