US 11,927,597 B2
Laboratory sample vessel distribution system, method for operating, and in-vitro diagnostic system
Andreas Schesny, Stuttgart (DE); and Vladimirs Leontjevs, Esslingen (DE)
Assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/232,290.
Claims priority of application No. 20170823 (EP), filed on Apr. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0333297 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/06 (2006.01); B25B 11/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/59 (2006.01); G01N 33/487 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/00584 (2013.01) [B01L 9/00 (2013.01); B01L 9/06 (2013.01); B25B 11/00 (2013.01); G01N 21/59 (2013.01); G01N 33/487 (2013.01); G01N 35/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); B01L 2200/085 (2013.01); B01L 2200/18 (2013.01); B01L 2300/04 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00306 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00316 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0491 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0498 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laboratory sample vessel distribution system, the laboratory sample vessel distribution system comprising:
a cabinet having an interior space covered by cabinet walls;
a plurality of sample vessel carriers having a plurality of support mounts each configured to detachably receive a sample vessel;
a cabinet drawer configured to receive at least one sample vessel carrier from the plurality of sample vessel carriers, the cabinet drawer being locatable in different position selected from the following:
a closed position, in which a drawer opening assigned to the cabinet drawer is closed by a front panel of the cabinet drawer,
an opened position, in which the drawer opening is open at least partially giving a user access to the interior space of the cabinet through the drawer opening, and
a fully opened position, in which the drawer opening is closed by a back panel of the cabinet drawer;
an actuator provided in the interior space and configured to handle at least one of the sample vessels and the sample vessel carriers by moving the sample vessels and the sample vessel carriers between different locations;
an actuator driver configured to drive the actuator and to apply a first mode of operation moving the actuator with a first speed of movement and to apply a second mode of operation moving the actuator with a second speed of movement being a reduced speed of movement compared to the first speed of movement;
a sensor device assigned to the cabinet drawer and configured to detect a present drawer position of the cabinet drawer, the present drawer position being selected from the closed position and the opened position of the cabinet drawer, and to provide drawer position signals indicative of the present position of the cabinet drawer; and
a control device connected to the actuator driver and to the sensor device for receiving the drawer position signals, the control device being configured to provide, in response to the drawer position signals, control signals to the actuator driver instructing the actuator driver to apply one of the first mode of operation, if the drawer position signals indicate the closed position and the second mode of operation, if the drawer position signals indicate the opened position.