A laboratory module shelf composed of laboratory modules arranged one above the other

Abstract

A laboratory modular shelf (36) includes at least two laboratory base modules (42) in a lower base module plane (38) and at least two laboratory work modules (56) in an upper work module plane (40) disposed above the base module plane (38), wherein each laboratory work module (56) includes a processing device (60) and a transport assembly (99), the transport assembly having a first transport device and a second transport device (68, 96) for transporting laboratory items at least to the processing device (60), wherein the first transport device (68) has a first receiving device (72), and wherein the second transport device (96) has a second receiving device. The first and second receiving devices are configured to receive laboratory items for transporting laboratory items, wherein the transport assembly (99) has a transfer area (176) in which the transport assembly (99) is configured to transfer the transported laboratory items between a first transport device and a second transport device (68, 96), wherein at least two laboratory work modules (56) follow each other along the extension direction of the first transport device (70), and wherein at least two laboratory work modules (56) have a common first transport device (68) and each of them has its own second transport device (96) and a transfer area (176).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a laboratory module assembly having multiple laboratory modules. Background Technology

[0002] In this respect, laboratory modules for performing analytical and / or productive biological and / or chemical processes, especially biochemical and / or pharmaceutical processes, are particularly important for the present invention.

[0003] Such laboratory modules are preferably used as components for forming laboratory layouts, which can be easily and quickly assembled from multiple laboratory modules according to desired or required functions.

[0004] A transport device for transporting sample carriers between different processing stations in a at least partially automated laboratory system is known from US 6739448 B1. As examples of sample carriers, US 6739448 B1 mentions microtiter plates and boxes with pipette tips. The laboratory system has multiple processing stations located at different positions, each having a station bearing surface. The known transport device can output the transported sample carriers to the station bearing surfaces for processing at the processing stations. The known transport device can move along transport routes between processing stations.

[0005] As a particular feature of the transport equipment described herein, US 6739448 B1 states that the transport equipment always acts on the sample carrier only from the bottom. The sample carrier is placed on the transport surface of the known transport equipment to be transported along the transport route by the transport equipment, and upon arrival at the target processing station, is handed over to the station bearing surface of the target processing station.

[0006] The transport surface has a C-shaped design in its surface extension, with an internal region that is either free or open and surrounded by the C-shaped transport surface. The station bearing surface, in its surface extension, is substantially complementary to the transport surface and restricted to the free internal surface region of the complementary C-shaped transport surface. The station bearing surface can only rise and fall along a path orthogonal to the parallel extension planes of the transport surface and the station bearing surface. The station bearing surface has no other degrees of freedom of motion. By moving the station bearing surface through the open internal region of the complementary C-shaped transport surface, the sample carrier initially placed flat on the transport surface can be lifted from the transport surface and thus received by means of the station bearing surface. By lowering the station bearing surface through the C-shaped transport surface, the sample carrier initially placed flat on the station bearing surface can be placed onto the transport surface and thus transferred to the transport surface. If the described transfer process between the transport surface and the station bearing surface is considered in a coordinate system that moves together with the initially unloaded surface of the receiving sample carrier formed by the transport surface and the station bearing surface, then in each transfer, the sample carrier is peeled off from the initial bearing surface to the receiving surface.

[0007] The C-shaped transport surface can be rotatably mounted on the support of the transport device around a rotation axis orthogonal to its transport surface plane.

[0008] The protrusion on the C-shaped transport surface defines the surface area for supporting the sample carrier on the transport surface and prevents the sample carrier contained on the transport surface from shifting parallel to the transport surface.

[0009] An automated laboratory analytical system having transport equipment operating therein is known from EP 0 990 906 A1. The transport equipment known from EP 0 990 906 A1 is housed in its own equipment housing and is used to transport components from one device of the laboratory analytical system to another device of the laboratory analytical system, wherein each device is housed in its own equipment housing. The equipment housing is connected to one of the equipment housings and is oriented relative to the other equipment housing.

[0010] EP 0 990 906 A1 mentions sample tubes, liquid containers, and disposable pipette tips as possible transportable components.

[0011] Known transport equipment includes a receiving plate, on which a component carrier can be accommodated simply by placement. The receiving plate is provided with a magnetic film to hold the component carrier in place by means of frictional force increased by magnetic force to exceed the weight of the component carrier. The receiving plate can move in three mutually orthogonal spatial directions, thereby enabling access to a fixed loading nozzle open on one side of the equipment towards the transport equipment. The loading nozzle is formed by C-shaped frames, each having an introduction aid in the region of its opening, the introduction aid having a net width decreasing towards the interior of the loading nozzle. The component carrier has a protruding shoulder at its upper end, which is normally in use, such that the component carrier, inserted into the opening of the nozzle, can be held by the frame in a form-fitting manner by gravity driven by its protruding shoulder against the frame of the loading nozzle.

[0012] Due to the introduction of an auxiliary component at the opening of the fixed loading nozzle, the component carrier, which stands solely on the receiving plate, can move within the plane of the receiving plate when it is inserted into the fixed loading nozzle. Although the magnetic force induced by the magnetic film increases the friction between the component carrier and the receiving plate, it does not impede the relative movement between them. Therefore, even when not precisely positioned relative to the loading nozzle, the component carrier can be placed on the receiving plate in the predetermined transfer position of the loading nozzle at the corresponding device.

[0013] By lowering the receiving plate after inserting the component carrier into the loading nozzle, the component carrier can be detached from the receiving plate while overcoming the magnetic force that initially acts between the component carrier and the receiving plate. The component carrier then remains in the fixed loading nozzle, where the laboratory analysis system's equipment associated with the loading nozzle can access the component within the component carrier.

[0014] When the component carrier is removed from the loading nozzle, the receiving plate moves from below towards the bottom of the component carrier, which is suspended and housed in the frame of the loading nozzle, lifting the component carrier so that its shoulder no longer contacts the frame of the loading nozzle, and causing the component carrier to move out of the loading nozzle.

[0015] An apparatus for handling microtiter plates is known from EP 3 450 985 A1. This apparatus horizontally retracts the microtiter plate into its main body via a loading member. The loading member can extend and retract again in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front of the apparatus via a shaft in the front of the apparatus. Known apparatuses can be used, for example, as a "patch-clamp" system for electrophysiology, as an "absorbance microplate reader," as a "fluorescence microplate reader," as a "luminescence microplate reader," as a "cell-imaging system," as an apparatus for performing electroporation for transfection, as an apparatus for measuring liquid level in a microtiter plate, and as a detection device ("reader") for microarrays in a microtiter plate.

[0016] A lift is located in front of the loading unit, and the lift can only move vertically parallel to the front of the equipment. The lift is a microtiter plate reservoir in which microtiter plates to be processed by the equipment are stored vertically, stacked one on top of the other. The loading unit has a C-shaped frame design, and the lift's support plate can move vertically through the free interior area of ​​the C-shaped frame design. The dimensions of the C-shaped frame design are determined so that the microtiter plates can be placed on it. The lift's support plate is smaller than the bottom surface of the microtiter plates, so that the support plate carrying the microtiter plates can travel vertically downward through the free interior space of the C-shaped frame design of the loading unit, where the microtiter plates carried by it can be detached onto the loading unit.

[0017] The carrier plate can lift the microtiter plate, prepared for transfer at the extended loading section, through the free interior area of ​​the C-shaped frame of the loading section via a vertical movement in the reverse sequence of motion. The unloaded loading section can then retract into the main body of the device, and subsequently, the elevator can move the received microtiter plate vertically to the desired location.

[0018] The loading component can move within the main body of the equipment in a horizontal direction that is both perpendicular to its horizontal extension and retraction movement and to the vertical movement direction of the elevator.

[0019] The apparatus for handling microtiter plates known from EP 3 450 985 A1 can be used in conjunction with a pipetting apparatus, wherein a gripping device is provided to move the microtiter plate from a lift to the working area of ​​the pipetting apparatus.

[0020] An automated analytical apparatus having one or more pipetting devices for performing clinical analysis of sample liquids is known from EP 0 856 736 A2. This automated analytical apparatus includes a conveyor belt for transporting sample carriers to an analysis station. Loading and unloading devices are provided at the analysis station, which move the sample carriers from the conveyor belt to the analysis station, or vice versa. The analytical apparatus also includes a sample carrier reservoir as a transport buffer, in which sample carriers can be intermediately stored and selected for re-analysis even after analysis.

[0021] Known loading and unloading devices may include a slider that moves a sample carrier from a conveyor belt to an analytical station, or vice versa. Similarly, loading and unloading devices are provided at a sample carrier storage unit to move the sample carrier from the conveyor belt to or from the sample carrier storage unit onto the conveyor belt.

[0022] As the sample carrier moves horizontally along the conveyor belt, it moves vertically within a sample carrier storage unit to facilitate the transfer of the desired, stored sample carrier from the storage unit to the conveyor belt. The sample carrier is identified by a barcode. At least one station in the analytical apparatus is a barcode reader.

[0023] A transport system for transporting and storing microtiter plates is known from US 7954624 B2 or EP 2 022 736 A1. This transport system is used to transport microtiter plates into and out of the working area of ​​a dispensing device for dispensing liquid. The dispensing device has dispensing heads movable in three pairs of mutually orthogonal spatial directions, the dispensing heads being able to approach the microtiter plates disposed in the working layer and dispensing liquid into the microtiter plates.

[0024] The system includes grid-like storage stations on which microtiter plates can be placed. Above each storage station is an opening device that can move in three pairs of orthogonal spatial directions to approach the storage station, grasp the cover of the microtiter plate, and lift it from the microtiter plate.

[0025] The storage station is equipped with an internal area devoid of material, through which a transport device can travel vertically to lift or place microtiter plates disposed on the storage station. The storage station provides support surfaces for storing the microtiter plates only in the corner areas, divided into separate sub-support surfaces, allowing the transport device to move between these successively arranged support surfaces along the travel direction.

[0026] US 7954624 B2 or EP 2 022 736 A1 also discloses a column memory having multiple storage columns arranged on a turntable, the storage columns being rotatable about a central lifting device. Within the storage columns, microtiter plates are stacked vertically and can be raised and lowered via the central lifting device. When the microtiter plates are at a predetermined transfer height level, a pick-up device is able to receive the corresponding uppermost microtiter plate of the storage column. With respect to the respective storage column, the storage column and the pick-up device form a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) memory.

[0027] By rotating the turntable, a specific storage column among multiple storage columns arranged around its axis of rotation in the circumferential direction can be engaged as an active storage column in cooperation with the lifting device. Then, the lifting device can gradually raise the microtiter plates arranged vertically in the active storage column, so that the corresponding uppermost microtiter plate is at the transfer height level and can be received by the pickup device. Summary of the Invention

[0028] The purpose of this invention is to provide a laboratory module component that enables the simple and safe execution of a series of processing procedures on laboratory technical objects while making efficient use of structural space.

[0029] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a laboratory module shelf having all the features of claim 1.

[0030] The laboratory module shelf includes at least two laboratory base modules and at least two laboratory working modules. The at least two base modules form the lower base module plane of the shelf, and the at least two working modules form the upper working module plane, which is positioned above the base module plane. A laboratory base module is located below at least one working module. This stacked arrangement of the laboratory modules ensures efficient use of structural space, as the modules are not only arranged side-by-side in the plane but also flatly stacked vertically in space. Preferably, for the purpose of functional separation within the laboratory module shelf, the working module plane contains only laboratory working modules, and the base module plane contains only laboratory base modules.

[0031] Each laboratory work module includes processing equipment and a transport component for transporting laboratory items, at least to the processing equipment. The transport component has a first transport device and a second transport device. The processing equipment is able to supply laboratory items and objects for processing via the transport component.

[0032] The first transport device has a first receiving device for accommodating laboratory items for transporting laboratory items via the first transport device, and the second transport device has a second receiving device for accommodating laboratory items for transporting laboratory items via the second transport device.

[0033] Here, the first receiving device can move along a first transport path, and the second receiving device can move along a second transport path that is different from the first transport path and extends laterally to the first transport path. The transport assembly here has a transfer area, in which the transport assembly is configured to transfer transported laboratory items from an output transport device in the first and second transport devices to a corresponding receiving transport device in the first and second transport devices. Through the different extensions of the transport paths and the configuration of the transfer area, although the kinematics of the first and second transport devices are simple, the transport assembly can still be configured such that it can reach any target location within the laboratory work module. While the target location is fixed with the construction of the transport assembly, the transport assembly can be planned and constructed to achieve any predetermined target location.

[0034] At least two laboratory work modules follow each other along the extension direction of the first transport section, wherein each laboratory work module has a common first transport device and its own second transport device and a transfer area. In this way, the first transport device enables the movement of laboratory items between laboratory work modules, and the second transport device enables the movement of laboratory items within laboratory work modules.

[0035] To perform laboratory technical tasks on the processed object, such as measurement and technical analysis of the processed object or / and mixing of a defined composition of a pourable processed object or / and separating a defined quantity of a pourable processed object, the laboratory work module preferably includes processing equipment for carrying out laboratory technical processing processes, separate from the transport components. The processed object can be a solid or a liquid. In cases where laboratory module shelving is currently preferably used for analytical and / or productive biological and / or chemical processing processes, particularly biochemical and / or pharmaceutical processing processes, the processed object is typically a liquid, wherein suspensions and emulsions are also considered liquids within the scope of this application. The processing of the processed object in the processing equipment is typically carried out in a single laboratory article, which is contained in or at the laboratory article, for example, in or at a single microtiter plate.

[0036] Another feasible processing device is a reading device used to identify laboratory items based on identification codes carried by the items, such as barcodes, and / or to detect data provided by the transported laboratory items, such as via RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, to name just two feasible examples. Furthermore, the laboratory work module can include an incubator or cleaning equipment for cleaning laboratory items, particularly microtiter plates.

[0037] In contrast, laboratory articles are functional solids such as containers, particularly sample containers and microtiter plates, as well as aspiration tips, that enable or assist in the laboratory technical processing of the object being processed, without themselves being structurally or quantitatively altered by the laboratory technical processing. Whenever a laboratory article is the object of measurement techniques within a laboratory module, it is typically an unavoidable incidental measurement object in addition to the processing article as the actual object of measurement, and / or used to compensate for and correct measurement results obtained from the processing article.

[0038] Preferably, most or even only the laboratory working modules have processing equipment, while the laboratory base modules do not. The laboratory base modules can have at least one storage device to provide laboratory articles for use in the laboratory working modules. The laboratory base modules can additionally have preparation equipment to prepare laboratory articles for use in the laboratory working modules. One feasible preparation device is a cleaning device for cleaning laboratory articles, especially containers, particularly microtiter plates, for their further use.

[0039] To simplify the organization of the laboratory module shelving, it is preferable that the first and second transport sections extend only within the working module plane. Therefore, the first and second transport sections transport laboratory items only within the working module plane, thus preferably transporting laboratory items only between or / and within laboratory working modules.

[0040] In order to transport laboratory items between the module plane, i.e., the working module plane and the base module plane, at least one laboratory module of the laboratory module shelf can have a laboratory item elevator, by means of which at least one laboratory item can be moved between the laboratory working module and the laboratory base module located below the laboratory working module.

[0041] A laboratory material lift can have a stacked storage unit that can be moved between a working module plane and a base module plane. Within the stacked storage unit are housing structures that follow each other along the direction of movement of the stacked storage unit, each housing structure for accommodating one laboratory item. Typically, a laboratory material lift can be a storage device for storing laboratory items. Because a laboratory material lift also transports the laboratory items housed within it, it is also a transport device. As a transport device, a laboratory material lift can be part of a laboratory working module, a laboratory base module, or both, transporting laboratory items between the laboratory working module and the laboratory base module.

[0042] As mentioned above, the second transport device is preferably configured as a delivery transport device for transporting laboratory items to the processing equipment of the corresponding laboratory work module. The first transport device is then preferably a supply transport device that cooperates with the delivery transport device for conveying laboratory items to the second transport device.

[0043] To supply more than one laboratory item to the processing equipment, according to a preferred improvement of the invention, the delivery transport equipment can have a first delivery receiving device and a second delivery receiving device configured to receive the laboratory item for transport via the delivery transport equipment. These two delivery receiving devices are preferably, and particularly preferably, only jointly movable along the transport route of the delivery transport equipment. To achieve a delivery transport equipment with the simplest possible construction yet still rigidity, the first and second delivery receiving devices are preferably immovable relative to each other. To allow these two delivery receiving devices to move as directly as possible into the working area of ​​the processing equipment, they are preferably arranged sequentially along a second transport route, which is the delivery transport route, and particularly preferably without lateral offset from each other. However, a height offset between the two delivery receiving devices is possible, although not preferred. Therefore, the second receiving device preferably comprises both the first and second delivery receiving devices.

[0044] In the laboratory work module, in addition to the transfer area, a preparation area may also be provided, in which transport components are configured to transfer transported laboratory items between one of the first and second transport devices and a laboratory items elevator. Although in principle the first transport device can also take laboratory items from the laboratory items elevator and deliver them to the second transport device, for the sake of a faster transport process, the second transport device is preferably configured to transfer laboratory items via the laboratory items elevator, especially when it has a first delivery receiving device and a second delivery receiving device. Preferably, only the first delivery receiving device cooperates with the first receiving device to transfer laboratory items, and only the second delivery receiving device cooperates with the laboratory items elevator to transfer laboratory items.

[0045] The handover area and the preparation area are preferably set apart from each other along the second transport route.

[0046] At least one receiving structure disposed in the laboratory articles elevator is configured to provide a receiving device, which preferably interacts with the second receiving device in the same or similar manner as the first receiving device interacts with the second receiving device, to transfer laboratory articles between the receiving devices. In particular, the transfer of laboratory articles between the first receiving device and the first delivery receiving device is preferably carried out in the same or similar manner as the transfer of laboratory articles between the providing receiving device and the second delivery receiving device.

[0047] In the preferred case where a laboratory goods elevator is used as a stacked storage unit, the stacked storage unit preferably has multiple, and particularly preferably all, storage structures arranged sequentially to each other that are identical in providing storage.

[0048] To ensure advantageous peel-off transfer of transported laboratory articles between at least two cooperating receiving devices for transferring laboratory articles, according to an improved embodiment of the invention, without the involvement of additional transfer equipment, such as grippers, sliders, etc., the receiving engagement of the transported laboratory articles with the first receiving device, the second receiving device, and the providing receiving device, particularly at least each of the two cooperating receiving devices among the first receiving device, the first delivery receiving device, the second delivery receiving device, and the providing receiving device, respectively comprises an auflageeing riff. Particularly preferably, the receiving engagement of the transported laboratory articles with all cooperating receiving devices for transferring laboratory articles comprises an auflageeing riff.

[0049] More precisely, the support engagement is preferably established by placing or resting laboratory items on the receiving device of the corresponding transport equipment or laboratory item elevator. Similarly, the support engagement is preferably disengaged by lifting the laboratory items from the receiving device of the corresponding transport equipment or laboratory item elevator.

[0050] However, this does not necessarily mean that laboratory articles are transported loosely and with only frictional engagement, lying flat on the receiving device. While this is feasible in principle, the frictional engagement between the laboratory articles and the corresponding receiving device limits the maximum possible acceleration and deceleration of the receiving device during transport. If the receiving device, preferably at least a first receiving device and a second receiving device, especially the first receiving device, a first delivery receiving device, and a second delivery receiving device, has at least one form-fitting element, preferably multiple form-fitting elements, such as protrusions and / or recesses, then a transport assembly with greater dynamics can be obtained. This form-fitting element restricts the movement of the contact surfaces of the laboratory articles, as intended for transport, parallel to their support joints, in at least one direction, preferably in opposite directions, particularly preferably along two displacement axes orthogonal to each other and parallel to the contact surfaces. The laboratory articles can then accelerate from rest with high acceleration parallel to the contact surfaces with the support joints of the receiving device carrying them, and brake from motion with equally high deceleration, without concern for displacement of the laboratory articles relative to the receiving device carrying them. The contact surface of the support joint is as follows, in which the laboratory article contacts the receiving device during the support joint with the receiving device.

[0051] In principle, according to the above description, the receiving device can also have at least one form-fitting element, preferably multiple form-fitting elements. However, in a preferred application, the contact surface of the receiving device in the vertical direction, thus orthogonal to the contact surface between the laboratory article and the support joint of the receiving device supporting it, is accelerated. Due to the simplification of manufacturing technology caused by using the same components, the receiving device preferably also includes at least one form-fitting element.

[0052] The first receiving device and the second receiving device are preferably configured differently in terms of shape and / or size. The second receiving device and the providing receiving device are preferably configured differently in terms of shape and / or size. According to a preferred embodiment, the first receiving device and the first delivery receiving device are configured differently in terms of shape and / or size, and the second delivery receiving device and the providing receiving device are configured differently in terms of shape and / or size. To reduce the diversity of receiving devices by using identical components, the first receiving device and the providing receiving device can be configured identically. According to a preferred embodiment, every two of the first receiving device, the first delivery receiving device, the second delivery receiving device, and the providing receiving device can be configured identically.

[0053] To facilitate simplified motion guidance along the first transport segment and the simplified introduction of acceleration and deceleration forces, a first receiving device, designed as a planar frame or planar disk, can be connected to a first transport base movable along the first transport segment. To achieve the highest possible positioning accuracy, the first transport base preferably has no translational degrees of freedom other than its mobility along the first transport segment. The first transport base also preferably does not have rotational degrees of freedom. The first transport base is preferably guided by a first motion guiding device, particularly preferably directly by the first motion guiding device. Additionally or alternatively, the same applies to the second receiving device with necessary modifications. The second receiving device can be connected to a second transport base movable along a second transport segment, wherein the second transport base preferably has no translational degrees of freedom other than its mobility along the second transport segment. The second transport base is preferably guided by a second motion guiding device, particularly preferably directly by the second motion guiding device.

[0054] Preferably, neither the first receiving device nor the second receiving device has a degree of rotational freedom.

[0055] Preferably, at least one of the first and second receiving devices is drivable for transfer movement, at least within the transfer area. The relative mobility of the transfer caused by the transfer movement of at least one receiving device is preferably designed such that, within the transfer area, the relative motion trajectory between the first and second receiving devices extends transversely to the first transport segment and the extension of the second transport segment within the transfer area.

[0056] Preferably, the receiving device, which is a second receiving device and can be driven to perform transfer movements, is preferably connected, particularly preferably rigidly connected, to the transfer base, wherein the transfer base itself is movably guided relative to the transport base of the receiving device. The transport base of the receiving device can then have a transfer movement actuator and optionally a transfer movement guide, at which the transfer base is movably guided. Thus, the transport movement of the transport base is advantageously independent of the transfer movement of its associated receiving device.

[0057] The transfer motion includes translational motion. Preferably, the transfer motion is only translational motion.

[0058] The receiving device, which cannot be driven to make transfer movements, is preferably rigidly connected to its transport base.

[0059] The transport base and / or transfer base may include at least one of the following: a screw nut, a slotted wedge, a rolling element-guided guide trolley, or a sliding surface-guided guide slide, or may be such a device, to name just a few examples.

[0060] One possible transfer motion actuator may include a screw drive mechanism, a piston-cylinder device, a belt drive mechanism, etc.

[0061] To establish the preferred support engagement described above between the laboratory articles and their respective receiving devices during transport of laboratory articles, it is sufficient for the first receiving device to have a first support surface assembly for receiving the laboratory articles by placing it on a first support surface assembly, and for the second receiving device to have a second support surface assembly for receiving the laboratory articles by placing it on a second support surface assembly. Clamping devices or other securing devices to prevent the laboratory articles from being lifted from the delivery receiving device are unnecessary and, preferably, not present. To secure the position of the laboratory articles on their respective receiving devices, the support surface assemblies can be defined by at least one form-fitting element mentioned above, for example, by one or more protrusions projecting in a direction away from the support surface assembly. This is preferably applicable to both the first and second receiving devices.

[0062] The transported laboratory items are preferably laid flat on the first and second containers in a manner that allows them to be lifted from the containers at all times during their transport through the first and second containers.

[0063] One or both of the first support surface assembly and / or the second support surface assembly can be formed by a plurality of separate support surfaces spaced apart from each other. The support surfaces are rigidly connected to each other by at least one member or at least one member segment of the respective receiving device, but it is not necessary to form a continuous support surface. One or both of the first support surface assembly and / or the second support surface assembly can be formed by a single continuous support surface.

[0064] In principle, the first support surface assembly and / or the second support surface assembly can be configured as a three-dimensional surface assembly. For improved practicality, laboratory items will typically have a resting area with a flat resting surface designed for placement on the ground, as laboratory items should be able to rest on a variety of different objects, including laboratory benches, shelves, partition bases, etc., which themselves are designed to accommodate different items. Therefore, preferably, the support surface assembly is configured to be flat to accommodate the widest possible range of laboratory items that can be rested. Furthermore, through a flat configuration of the support surface assemblies of multiple or all accommodating devices, in an advantageous improvement, the accommodating devices can be configured to accommodate more than one type of laboratory item.

[0065] During support engagement with the support surface assembly of the receiving device, the resting surface of the laboratory article comes into contact with the support surface assembly. During support engagement between the laboratory article and the receiving device, the resting surface and the support surface assembly make contact at the contact surfaces already mentioned above in the support engagement.

[0066] To enable the safe transfer of laboratory articles between the first and second receiving devices with minimal effort, for example, through the shortest possible transfer path constituting the receiving device for performing the transfer movement, the relative transfer trajectory preferably extends laterally to the first support surface assembly and / or the second support surface assembly. In further optimization of the transfer path, the relative transfer trajectory extends orthogonally to the first support surface assembly and / or the second support surface assembly. Most preferably, the first and second support surface assemblies are parallel to each other, and the relative transfer trajectory extends orthogonally to both support surface assemblies.

[0067] The safest possible placement of laboratory items on the first and second support assemblies can be achieved by having one of the first and second receiving devices, as the outer receiving device, have a receiving frame extending around the inner region of the material of the outer receiving device that does not have an outer receiving device. Thus, the corresponding other receiving device in the first and second receiving devices, as the inner receiving device, can have a receiving carrier, such that the relative movement of the inner receiving device along the transfer relative motion trajectory through the outer receiving device is the relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region of the receiving frame.

[0068] Preferably, the receiving frame has a C-shaped design, having a frame base from which one frame leg extends at intervals toward the same side. To increase the support surface assembly and the contact surface achievable thereon, according to an improvement of the invention, the longitudinal end regions of the frame legs away from the frame base are configured to bend toward the corresponding other frame leg.

[0069] In the support engagement with laboratory articles, the receiving frame is partially positioned below the laboratory articles with its support surface assembly, while at least one additional segment of the resting surface of the laboratory articles is not in contact with the support surface assembly of the receiving frame. By using the receiving frame, the segment of the resting surface of the laboratory articles that is not in contact with the support surface assembly of the receiving frame can be brought into contact with the support surface assembly of the receiving carrier.

[0070] Preferably, the portion of the receiving frame that does not contact the flat laboratory articles protrudes laterally from the surface on which the laboratory articles are placed, for example, so that at least one form-fitting element is provided there for positioning the laboratory carrier that engages with the receiving frame support.

[0071] To transfer laboratory items from an output container to a receiving container frame, at least one portion of the placement surface of the laboratory items, which laterally protrudes from the support surface assembly of the container, can be made to contact the support surface assembly of the receiving frame using a container that, in supporting engagement with the laboratory items, has its support surface assembly partially positioned below the laboratory items, while the non-contacting portion of the placement surface of the laboratory items laterally protrudes from the container of the container.

[0072] Preferably, the portion of the receiving frame that does not contact the flat laboratory articles protrudes laterally from the surface on which the laboratory articles are placed, preferably so that at least one form-fitting element is provided thereto for positioning the laboratory carrier that engages with the receiving frame support.

[0073] The receiving carrier can also have the generally C-shaped or O-shaped shape described above, which results in an advantageously small moving mass of the receiving carrier due to the absence of an internal region of material containing the receiving carrier. To allow the receiving carrier to pass through the free internal region of the receiving frame, the receiving carrier is constructed to be smaller than the receiving frame. According to a preferred improvement of the laboratory work module, the receiving frame and / or the receiving carrier can have functional devices that act on the transported laboratory items or in conjunction with the processing equipment of the laboratory work module, such as heaters, magnetic field sources, or electrodes. The receiving frame and / or the receiving carrier can have support surface assemblies constituting the receiving frame and / or the receiving carrier, or solid plates that contribute to the construction of the receiving frame and / or the receiving carrier, particularly for supporting functional devices. The plates can be constructed of conductive material as electrodes. The plates can support at least one heating element and serve as a distribution device for planarly distributing the heat emitted by the at least one heating element. Therefore, laboratory articles received by the housing frame and / or housing carrier can be heated as uniformly as possible on their mounting surface or via the contact surface of the support joint and / or placed in an electric field and / or placed on a surface with a defined uniform potential and / or housed in a magnetic field.

[0074] A switchable magnetic field source can include at least one selectively energized electromagnet and / or a permanent magnet that can move relative to each other to change the strength of the magnetic field emitted by it.

[0075] To supply energy, preferably electrical energy, to the functional devices, the transport equipment having the functional devices can carry an energy supply device or be supplied with energy via an energy supply line. The energy supply line can terminate at the housing frame and / or housing carrier carrying the functional devices and is guided in a line guiding device, such as a link chain or energy guiding chain, to perform line movement accompanying the movement of the housing frame and / or housing carrier. Alternatively, the energy supply can be performed via a fixed busbar extending along the transport section associated with the housing frame and / or housing carrier having the functional devices and a current collector moving with the transport equipment.

[0076] The laboratory module can have at least one storage device that cooperates with a particularly preferred transport device for transferring, preferably peeling, laboratory items, for temporary storage of the laboratory items. To keep the number of different components low, the receiving device of the storage device can be designed in the same way as the supply receiving device and / or the provision receiving device mentioned below. The storage device can have the functional devices mentioned above, such as heaters and / or magnetic field sources and / or electrodes, optionally combined with the solid plate described above, so as to heat the laboratory items contained thereon or subject them to magnetic and / or electric fields and / or allow the contents of the laboratory items to be stirred by means of a magnetic stirrer.

[0077] Essentially, at least one receiving device capable of moving along a transfer relative motion trajectory can be arbitrarily movable along that trajectory compared to a direction linearly independent of the extension directions of the first and second transport segments, respectively. Currently, the transfer motion is preferably lifting and / or lowering motion, while the first and second transport segments preferably extend horizontally, respectively.

[0078] Preferably, the transfer motion is used only to transfer laboratory items transported by the output receiving device to another receiving receiving device or to be taken over by the other receiving receiving device. Similarly, the transfer motion configured for the receiving device or transport equipment to perform the transfer motion can be used to transfer the transported laboratory items to the processing equipment of the laboratory module. Advantageously, a small, lightweight transfer motion actuator, and thus the smallest possible motion mass of the corresponding transport equipment, can be achieved by ensuring that, for a receiving device that can be driven to move along a relative transfer motion trajectory, its maximum movement path along the relative transfer motion trajectory is shorter than its maximum movement path along its transport segment. Preferably, its maximum movement path along its transport segment is at least twice as long, more preferably at least three times as long, and even more preferably at least four times as long.

[0079] In order to enable the receiving devices to be designed in a way that is as similar as possible, thereby providing transport assemblies and delivery stations with as many identical components as possible that can cooperate with each other, preferably, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are respectively configured as outer receiving devices and each has a receiving frame that extends around the free internal area of ​​the outer receiving device, or preferably, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are respectively configured as inner receiving devices and have a receiving carrier.

[0080] Preferably, when the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are respectively configured as outer receiving devices, the providing receiving device and the supply receiving device are respectively configured as inner receiving devices. Similarly, preferably, when the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are respectively configured as inner receiving devices, the providing receiving device and the supply receiving device are respectively configured as outer receiving devices. Thus, the relative movement of the inner receiving device along the transfer relative movement trajectory through the outer receiving device is preferably the relative movement of the receiving carrier through the internal region of the receiving frame.

[0081] In this configuration, the supply transport equipment, delivery transport equipment, and laboratory object elevator can be functioning effectively with only two distinct receiving devices. Furthermore, the first and second delivery receiving devices can have different designs, for example, since only one of the delivery receiving devices carries the functional components mentioned above. Preferably, the supply receiving device and the delivery receiving device are identically configured. The transfer of laboratory items from the delivery receiving device to the delivery receiving device, and preferably also in the opposite direction, occurs without the involvement of additional transfer equipment, such as grippers, sliders, etc.

[0082] Furthermore, since the first delivery containment device and the second delivery containment device are preferably arranged sequentially along the delivery transport route, preferably only one of the two delivery containment devices, such as the first delivery containment device, cooperates with the first containment device to transfer laboratory items, and only the other of the two delivery containment devices, such as the second delivery containment device, cooperates with the delivery containment device to transfer laboratory items.

[0083] To achieve simple and uncomplicated grouping of laboratory work modules within laboratory module shelves, particularly in work module planes, the laboratory work modules, especially the substrates supporting their components, preferably have bottom dimensions in each of two orthogonal bottom spatial directions, wherein the difference between these dimensions and larger dimensions along the same bottom spatial direction is no more than 7.5%, preferably no more than 5%. Particularly preferably, the laboratory work modules of the laboratory module shelf, especially the substrates supporting their components, have a uniform bottom surface with the same dimensions along the same bottom spatial direction. Similarly, it is also conceivable that the laboratory work modules have a uniform bottom surface dimension or an integer multiple thereof along the extension direction of the first transport segment. Preferably, the laboratory module shelf has multiple laboratory work modules only along the extension direction of the first transport segment, and none along the extension direction of the second transport segment. Likewise, the laboratory module shelf preferably has only exactly one work module plane.

[0084] For the same reason, the laboratory base modules preferably have bottom dimensions in each of two mutually orthogonal bottom spatial directions, wherein the difference between the bottom dimensions and the larger dimensions along the same spatial direction is no more than 7.5%, preferably no more than 5%. Particularly preferably, the laboratory base modules of the laboratory module shelf have a uniform bottom surface with the same dimensions along the same bottom spatial direction. It is also conceivable that the laboratory base modules have a uniform bottom surface dimension or an integer multiple thereof parallel to the extension direction of the first transport segment. Preferably, the laboratory module shelf has multiple laboratory base modules only parallel to the extension direction of the first transport segment, and none parallel to the extension direction of the second transport segment. Similarly, the laboratory module shelf preferably has only exactly one base module plane.

[0085] When the laboratory modular shelving is ready for operation, the bottom spatial direction is horizontal.

[0086] To clarify: For both the laboratory working module and the laboratory base module, their bottom surfaces can have different dimensions in the spatial direction (width and depth), for example, the depth can be at least twice the width. However, based on the above description, the width dimension of the laboratory working module is preferably uniform. Similarly, preferably, based on the above description, the depth dimension of the laboratory working module is uniform. Corresponding modifications are made to the bottom spatial direction (width and depth) of the laboratory base module.

[0087] Preferably, the laboratory working module has a working module frame and is housed in or within the working module frame. The working module frame is preferably configured as a truss, for example, as a cuboid frame that is particularly well connectable on all sides, such that there are passageways between adjacent laboratory working modules, which enable movement of supply and transport equipment across the laboratory working modules. Therefore, preferably, instead of providing a common enclosure as a covering shell for each laboratory working module, the enclosure is provided only for the overall modular laboratory layout.

[0088] The work module frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory work module, particularly three laboratory work modules, which are arranged sequentially with each other along the supply transport route at or within the module frame.

[0089] The laboratory base module can have a base module frame. The base module frame is preferably configured as a truss, for example, as a cuboid frame that is particularly well connectable on all sides. Thus, pathways can exist between adjacent laboratory base modules and between them and the laboratory work modules disposed above them. A laboratory base module and the laboratory work modules disposed above it, especially the laboratory work modules carried by the laboratory base module, can use at least one common frame member, which is part of both the work module frame and the base module frame.

[0090] The basic module frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory basic module, and more preferably three laboratory basic modules, which are arranged in the basic module frame parallel to the supply and transportation route and follow each other.

[0091] For ease of manufacture and installation, the working module frame and the base module frame are preferably constructed to have at least the same bottom dimensions, preferably the same height dimensions, and particularly preferably even identical.

[0092] The basic module framework can also be a working module framework. Preferably, the laboratory basic module is set within the combined basic and working module framework, while the laboratory working modules are set upon it. In this configuration, the laboratory basic module set within the basic and working module framework also carries the laboratory working modules set upon it.

[0093] To protect against external influences such as forces, airflow, and contaminants, the laboratory module shelving preferably has a common enclosure as a protective shell that shields its multiple laboratory modules from the external environment of the shelving. Preferably, the common enclosure is secured to the working module frame and / or the base module frame.

[0094] For maintenance and repair, and / or for loading, unloading, and assembling the laboratory module shelving, the internal space of the laboratory module shelving is accessible from the outside via at least one entrance side of a common enclosure. To also enable full maintenance of the transport components, the entrance side is preferably the side of the common enclosure along which the first transport section extends. For this purpose, the entrance side of the common enclosure may have at least one maintenance opening in the upper working module plane as an entrance opening through which the first transport device can be accessed.

[0095] Accessibility can exist only in the base module plane so as not to interfere with or damage the typically very sensitive processing equipment. To ensure this accessibility, preferably only the working module plane has the transport components described above, while the base module plane does not. Each base module can have transport devices movable in the depth and / or height direction of the laboratory component's body, for example, to load and unload laboratory items, particularly microtiter plates, into cleaning equipment. Preferably, the base modules do not have transport devices whose transport sections extend along a following direction, in which the laboratory base modules are arranged following each other, so as not to impede the preferred pull-outability of each laboratory base module from the body of the laboratory component.

[0096] To avoid excessive interference with the shielding of the laboratory module caused by the encapsulation, the entrance side of the common encapsulation can have at least one entrance opening that can be opened and closed via a door and / or a flip cover and / or a roller shutter. Thus, the entrance opening can only be opened when needed, and otherwise remains closed.

[0097] Preferably, the common encapsulation has at least one loading opening as an inlet on the lower base module plane, through which at least one laboratory item can be loaded into the laboratory base module. For this purpose, at least one laboratory base module can have a pull-out drawer or a pull-out push-in, which can be pulled out from the body defined by the encapsulation of the laboratory module shelf and then pushed back in. Thus, for example, a laboratory item lift that also functions as a storage device, particularly a stacked storage unit, within the laboratory base module can be easily and quickly loaded with laboratory items. The stacked storage unit can advantageously have hoppers on which laboratory items can be mounted outside the laboratory module shelf, which, upon loading, can be fed into the lifting and lowering mechanism of the laboratory item lift, thereby allowing it to be moved by the laboratory item lift to the corresponding laboratory work module above it.

[0098] The laboratory working module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory layout as a whole can have at least one control device that controls the operation of the laboratory working module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory layout. The at least one control device is capable, for example, of controlling the transport of laboratory items and the operation of at least one processing device. The control device can have at least one integrated circuit and at least one data memory. An operating program for execution via the at least one integrated circuit can be executablely stored in the data memory. The data memory can also store operating data detected by sensors in the laboratory working module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory layout during operation, such as operating data detected by position sensors for detecting the position of the housing and / or transport base along its transport route, or by temperature sensors, or by proximity sensors for detecting the presence of components at predetermined locations.

[0099] The laboratory setup discussed above can be used to perform so-called ELISA tests (ELISA = "Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay"), wherein preferably, the entire ELISA test is performed fully automated within the laboratory setup. The test solutions and laboratory supplies required for the ELISA test must be loaded into the laboratory setup, particularly into at least one basic laboratory module, and a certain amount of microtiter plates or target containers must also be loaded. Attached Figure Description

[0100] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0101] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a laboratory modular shelving unit according to the invention is shown.

[0102] Figure 2 Showing without encapsulation Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the laboratory module shelf according to the present invention.

[0103] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the foundation and working module framework of the laboratory modular shelving.

[0104] Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the first transport device of the laboratory module shelving.

[0105] Figure 5 Show Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the laboratory module shelving and laboratory working modules.

[0106] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of the second receiving device of the second transport equipment of the laboratory working module.

[0107] Figure 7 Show Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of the second transport device of the laboratory work module.

[0108] Figure 8 Show Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the laboratory's basic modular structure, including the laboratory module shelving.

[0109] Figure 9 Show Figure 8 A schematic perspective view of the empty stacked storage units of the laboratory's basic module.

[0110] Figure 10 Show Figure 8 A schematic perspective view of the stacked storage units loaded in the laboratory's basic module.

[0111] Figure 11 A schematic perspective view of the basic module plan of the laboratory assembly according to the invention is shown, wherein the basic module is pulled out from the basic and working module frame.

[0112] Figure 12 This shows the process before transferring laboratory items from the first transport device to the second transport device. Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the transfer area of ​​the laboratory module shelving.

[0113] Figure 13 The diagram shows the process after the laboratory items are transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device. Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the transfer area of ​​the laboratory module shelving.

[0114] Figure 14 Showing has Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the laboratory working module of the suction and transfer equipment in the laboratory modular shelving, and

[0115] Figure 15 Show Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the working area of ​​the suction and transfer equipment in the laboratory module shelf of the laboratory working module. Detailed Implementation

[0116] The attached diagram is not to scale, but it qualitatively and correctly depicts the size relationships.

[0117] exist Figure 1In this designation, the laboratory layout is generally represented by 10. The laboratory layout 10 has an enclosure 12 that surrounds and shields the equipment and components housed within the interior 14 of the laboratory layout 10 from the external environment. Processes within the interior 14 of the laboratory layout 10 can be observed through the front window 16 and side windows 18.

[0118] The side window 18 has a through-hole 20 to allow laboratory items to be manually or robotically moved from the external environment U into the interior 14 of the laboratory arrangement 10. The through-hole can be located in the front window 16 or in any wall of the housing 12 instead of in the side window 18. The through-hole 20 allows for the movement of laboratory items from the external environment U into the interior 14 of the laboratory arrangement 10. Figure 1 The cover, not shown, is closed, or the through portion is open through.

[0119] Status lights 22 on the upper side of the housing 12 display one or more operating statuses of the laboratory layout 10 via light signals.

[0120] exist Figure 1 The figures show a Cartesian coordinate system to illustrate the laboratory layout 10 and its components, and to facilitate orientation using the spatial directions x, y, and z. The Cartesian coordinate system remains constant throughout all figures.

[0121] Here, the x-direction extends horizontally along the front side 12a of the housing 12 in the width direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. Similarly, the y-direction extends horizontally along the side side 12b of the housing 12 in the depth direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. The z-direction extends vertically not only along the front side 12a of the housing 12 but also along the side side 12b in the height direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. The x and y directions are the reference plane spatial directions in the sense of the introduction to this specification.

[0122] At the front side 12a of the housing 12, in the lower extension region of the housing 12 or the laboratory arrangement 10, are push-in front panels 26, 28, and 30, which can be unlocked by switch 24. The push-in front panels 26, 28, and 30, which are locked during operation, can be individually unlocked by operating switch 24. The base module, connected to the push-in front panels 26, 28, and 30, and further described below, can then be pulled out of the body 32 defined by the housing 12 of the laboratory arrangement 10 in the reverse y-direction, and can be pushed back into the body 32 in the y-direction. A gripper 34 facilitates pulling the base module out of the body 32.

[0123] Figure 2The laboratory arrangement 10 without the housing 12 is shown. It can be seen that the laboratory arrangement 10 is a laboratory module rack 36 having a lower base module layer 38 and a working module layer 40 disposed above it. Three laboratory base modules 42a, 42b, and 42c are exemplary present in the base module layer 38, wherein the middle and right laboratory base modules 42b and 42c each have stacked storage units, and wherein the left laboratory base module 42a has a cleaning device 44.

[0124] Laboratory foundation modules 42a, 42b, and 42c are housed side-by-side along the x-direction within a foundation and working module frame 46, which is constructed in a truss configuration of vertical supports 48, horizontal beams 50 connecting the vertical supports 48, and horizontal longitudinal beams 52 connecting the beams 50. On the sides, parallel plates 54 are provided at the outermost compartments along the x-direction. The foundation module frame 46... Figure 3 It is shown separately.

[0125] The base and working module frame 46 not only carries the three laboratory base modules 42a, 42b and 42c shown exemplarily, but also carries the laboratory working modules 56a, 56b and 56c disposed in the working module layer 40, which are disposed side by side on the base and working module frame 46 along the x-direction, just like the laboratory base modules 42a, 42b and 42c below them.

[0126] The left laboratory work module 56a includes an incubator 58 as a processing device 60 and a gripper 62. The middle laboratory work module 56b includes a pipetting device 64 as a processing device 60, which is located at the bridge support 63. The right laboratory work module 56c includes a barcode reader 66 as a processing device 60.

[0127] A first transport device 68 is installed on the front side of the basic or working module frame 46, above the upper crossbeam 50, which is combined with Figure 4 The details are elaborated. The first transport device 68 is a supply transport device 68, which is also the supply transport segment 70. The first transport segment 70, which extends parallel to the x-direction, passes through all three laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c, enabling the first transport device 68 to transport laboratory items to each individual laboratory work module 56a, 56b, and 56c of the work module layer 40.

[0128] The incubator 58 loads and unloads laboratory items, in this example microtiter plates, via a gripper 62, wherein the gripper 62 removes the laboratory item from the first receiving device 72 of the first transport device 68 and places it onto a loading frame 74 that can extend from and retract into the incubator 58, or removes the laboratory item from the loading frame 74 and places it onto the first receiving device 70.

[0129] The middle and left laboratory work modules 56b and 56c each have a second transport device 76, which is described in further detail below.

[0130] exist Figure 4 The first transport device 68 is shown separately.

[0131] The first transport equipment carrier 78 can be securely fastened at the upper crossbeam 50 at the front of the foundation and working module frame 46, the first transport equipment carrier carrying other components of the first transport equipment 68.

[0132] A first transport equipment carrier 78 carries a guide rail 80 extending parallel to the x-direction on its upper side. The guide rail guides the first transport base 82 of the first transport equipment 68 along a first transport section 70. The guide rail 80 defines the first transport section 70.

[0133] The transport base 82 is movable on the guide rail 80 by means of rolling element support.

[0134] Furthermore, the first transport base 82 is clamped to the belt 84 of the first transport drive 86 of the first transport device 68, which is in the form of a belt drive. The motor 88 of the first transport drive 86 drives the belt 84 in one of two opposite winding directions according to the driving direction of the motor 88, thereby causing the first transport base 82 to move along the first transport section 70, and by means of it causing the first receiving device 72, which is rigidly connected to the first transport base 82, to move along the first transport section 70.

[0135] The first receiving device 72, as an external receiving device, has a receiving frame having a base 72a, legs 72b extending from the base at each longitudinal end of the base 72a, and leg ends 72c bent toward each other at each longitudinal end of the legs 72b away from the base 72a. The internal region 73 of the first receiving device 72, which is designed to be external to the receiving frame, does not contain the material of the first receiving device 72.

[0136] Support surfaces 75a, 75b, and 75c are respectively formed at the base 72a, leg 72b, and leg end 72c facing the inward region (support surfaces 75b and 75c exist twice, however...). Figure 4(Due to the selected viewing angle, it can only be seen once). The various support surfaces 75a, 75b and 75c form a first support surface assembly 77 in a common plane, on which the placement surface of laboratory items can be placed flat in contact with the first support surface assembly.

[0137] The thicker and particularly thicker segments 79a, 79b and 79c of the base 72a, legs 72b and leg ends 72c, which are radially outside the unmaterialized inner regions 73 of the support surfaces 75a, 75b and 75c, form shape-fitting elements as components of the first receiving device constituting the receiving frame. These elements prevent laboratory articles placed on the first support surface assembly 77 from relative displacement in two spatial directions that are orthogonal to each other and parallel to the first support surface assembly 77, thereby holding the laboratory articles placed on the first support surface assembly 77 in the plane of the support surface assembly 77.

[0138] exist Figure 5 A perspective view of a laboratory work module 56b having a pipetting device 64 as a processing device 60 is shown separately.

[0139] Figure 5 The laboratory work module 56b has a base plate 90 that can be connected to supports 50 and 52 on the upper side of the base and work module frame 46, thereby securing it to the frame. The base plate 90 can vary for different laboratory work modules, such as laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c, depending on the requirements of the processing equipment 60 to be mounted on or located thereon, and other functional devices if necessary. However, the base plates 90 of laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c have substantially the same dimensions in the x-direction and also substantially the same dimensions in the y-direction.

[0140] On the substrate 90, the bridge-type support 63 is fixed across the substrate 90 in the width direction, i.e., the x-direction. The crossbeam 63a of the bridge-type support 63 carries a pipetting device 64, which has multiple, in the illustrated example eight, pipetting channels 92 arranged side-by-side in the x-direction. The pipetting channels 92 extend along corresponding channel axes K, which extend parallel to the z-direction. For better overview, in... Figure 5 Only one of the eight parallel channel axes K is shown in the diagram.

[0141] In the preferred embodiment shown, the pipetting channels 92 can move only collectively and exclusively along the channel axis K, such that the pipetting channels 92 can only approach and move away from the substrate 90 at their designated locations. This simple kinematics of the pipetting device 64 enables a very simple structure for the pipetting device 64, which has only one motion guide for all pipetting channels 92. Due to the single degree of freedom of movement along the channel axis K, the motion guide can be implemented with minimal effort and high precision.

[0142] In the illustrated embodiment, the pipetting apparatus 64 has its own control device 94 that controls the operation of the pipetting apparatus 64. The control device 94 is capable of working collaboratively with a higher-level master control device of the laboratory layout 10 as a slave control device.

[0143] On substrate 90 Figure 5 A second transport device 96 is tightly attached to the longitudinal side opposite to its observer. This second transport device is a delivery transport device 96 that supplies laboratory items to the pipetting device 64 to perform a pipetting process. The second transport device 96 is movable along a second transport segment 98 or a delivery transport segment 98. The second transport segment or delivery transport segment 98 is defined by the orientation of the guide rail 100 of the second transport device 96. The first and second transport devices 68 and 96 together form a transport assembly 99 (see...). Figure 12 and Figure 13 ).

[0144] The second transport device 96 has a second receiving device 102, which is a receiving assembly 104 having a first delivery receiving device 104a and a second delivery receiving device 104b. Similar to the first transport device 68, the second receiving device 102 is guided in a movable manner along the second transport segment 98 via a second transport base 106 in the illustrated example based on rolling elements at a guide rail 100, and coupled to a belt 108 of a belt drive mechanism 110, which can be driven by a motor 112 to move the belt in two opposite circumferential directions to drive the second transport base 106 and the second receiving device 102. The motor 112 and the belt drive mechanism 110 form a second transport drive 114.

[0145] The second receiving device 102 is capable of [transferring] from the z-direction. Figure 5The position shown in the diagram begins to rise and then descend again to perform the transfer movement, which will be described in more detail below. For this purpose, the second transport base 106 has a transfer drive 116, which includes a motor drive 118, a vertically extending guide rail 120 capable of moving along the second transport section 98 together with the second transport base 106, and a belt 122 of the transfer belt drive mechanism 124 that can be driven in the opposite circumferential direction by the motor drive 118. At the guide rail 120, the transfer base 123 (see...) Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 Preferably, the rolling element is guided and coupled to the belt 122 for joint movement. The second receiving device 102 is directly coupled to the transfer base 123 for joint movement.

[0146] Orientation of substrate 90 Figure 5 On the observer's longitudinal side, closer to the longitudinal end of the substrate 90 where the motor 112 is located, two substantially identical vertical guides 126 of the corresponding vertical laboratory item lift 128 are fixed to the substrate 90. The vertical guides 126 pass through the opening 130, through which the corresponding laboratory item lift 128, as a transport device, is able to vertically transport laboratory items from the base module layer 38 to the working module layer 40.

[0147] exist Figure 6 A second receiving device 102 or receiving assembly 104 having a second transport base 106 and a transfer drive 116 is shown separately.

[0148] The first delivery receiving device 104a has a support surface assembly 132, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed by four separate support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d. These four support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d are located in the corner regions of the entire surface of the first delivery receiving device 104a.

[0149] The dimensions of the support surface assembly 132 of the first delivery receiving device 104a are determined such that it can move through the internal region 73 of the first receiving device 72 in opposite directions, which are orthogonal to both the support surface assembly 77 and the support surface assembly 132. This orthogonal motion trajectory corresponds to a transfer trajectory or transfer relative motion trajectory TRB extending along the z-axis.

[0150] The first delivery receiving device 104a also has a solid plate 135 with four separate support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c and 134d 134 radially inwardly positioned. The solid plate can be rectangular in shape and can have rounded corners as shown in the preferred embodiment.

[0151] In the corner regions outside the support surface assembly 132, protrusions 136 orthogonal to the support surface assembly 132 are provided. These protrusions secure laboratory articles placed flat on the support surface assembly 132 to prevent displacement orthogonal to the transfer relative motion trajectory TRW or parallel to the support surface assembly 132. For this purpose, two protrusions 136 are provided in each corner region, allowing them to abut against a common component edge of a laboratory article, such as a microtiter plate, having a rectangular base surface in this case.

[0152] The solid receiving plate 135 of the first delivery receiving device 104a can have functional devices 138, such as a heating device, a device for generating a magnetic field, or the receiving plate can be configured as electrodes for generating an electric field. In this way, laboratory articles placed flat on the first delivery receiving device 104a can be heated or temperature-controlled, and can be subjected to a magnetic field, for example, to accelerate magnetic or soft magnetic particles in the laboratory articles toward the solid receiving plate 135 or to operate a magnetic stirrer in the laboratory articles, or to operate detection in an electric field, such as capacitive liquid level detection (CLLD).

[0153] Unlike the first delivery receiving device 104a, the second delivery receiving device 104b does not have a solid receiving plate 135, but is configured as a receiving frame with a free internal area, just like the first receiving device 72. As with the first receiving device 72, which is also configured as a C-shaped receiving frame, the support surface assembly 140 of the second delivery receiving device 104b is also composed of separate and spaced-apart support surfaces 142a, 142b, 142c, and 142d. However, unlike the first receiving device 72, these support surfaces are not arranged along the edges of the rectangular base of the laboratory item to be received, but are located in its corner area.

[0154] However, in principle, the first delivery receiving device 104a may also have a C-shaped receiving frame below the solid receiving plate 135, the base of which is similar to or the same as the base of the C-shaped receiving frame of the second delivery receiving device 104b.

[0155] The receiving frame of the second delivery receiving device 104b also has a base 144a, at its longitudinal end regions, where parallel legs 144b project in the same direction. Unlike the receiving frame of the first delivery receiving device 72, the longitudinal end regions of the legs 144b do not bend towards each other. The second delivery receiving device 104b, like the first delivery receiving device 104a, is an internal receiving device. The second delivery receiving device 104b, due to its external dimensions, is theoretically also capable of moving through the internal region 73 of the receiving device 72, assuming that the second delivery receiving device 104b can reach the receiving device 72. In fact, the second delivery receiving device 104b can move through the internal region 173 of the preparation receiving device 172, which is described in detail below (see...). Figure 9 ).

[0156] In each corner region of the support surface assembly 140 of the second delivery receiving device 104b, two protrusions 136 orthogonal to the support surface assembly 140 are provided in the same manner as at the first delivery receiving device 104a, so as to secure laboratory items laid flat on the support surface assembly 140 to prevent them from shifting parallel to the support surface assembly 140.

[0157] In the illustrated embodiment, the first delivery receiving device 104a is connected via a cantilever 146 to a transfer base 123 guided at guide rail 120 and driven by belt 122, thereby offset along the y-axis in the depth direction about guide rail 120. Conversely, the second delivery receiving device 104b is located directly at the depth coordinate (y-coordinate) of guide rail 120.

[0158] exist Figure 7 The second transport device 96, together with its second transport device carrier 148, is shown in three dimensions. The second transport device carrier is capable of being fastened to the longitudinal beams 52 of the foundation and working module frame 46, and, if desired, can also be fastened to the transverse beams 50 of the foundation and working module frame 46 at its longitudinal ends or to the base plate 90 of the laboratory working module 56b. However, in Figure 6 The second transport drive 114 is not shown.

[0159] The movement guidance of the second transport base 106 Figure 5 and Figure 7 There may be slight differences in the details, but that's not important here.

[0160] exist Figure 8 The central laboratory base module 42b is shown in three dimensions. Figure 2 It is inserted below the laboratory working module 56b with pipetting device 64 in the basic and working module framework 46.

[0161] The laboratory base module 42b has its own module frame 150, which is inserted into and secured to the base and working module frame 46. The module frame 150, as a base module frame 150 for a single laboratory base module 42b or 42c in a narrow sense, is also constructed in the form of a truss via struts.

[0162] The front panel 28 of the push-in is the front side of the push-in 152, which can be pulled out from the module frame 150 along the y-axis.

[0163] Two laboratory item lifts 128 are also installed in the module frame 150, with push plates 154 visible on the upper side of the laboratory base module 42b. The push plates 154 are movable parallel to the z-direction by corresponding transport drivers, and can cause the stacked storage units disposed in the push-in 152, along with their contents, to move along and against the z-direction.

[0164] exist Figure 9 and Figure 10 The stacked storage units 156 are shown in three dimensions, in which... Figure 9 The stacked memory in the data is empty, and in which Figure 10 The stacked storage 156 contains a sub-selection 158 consisting of laboratory items. Currently, the sub-selection 158 should be a second sub-selection 158, which includes a source container 158a and a pipette tip assembly 158b as laboratory items.

[0165] Figure 11 Show Figure 9 and 10 The stacked storage unit 156 can be suspended in the side wall 153 of the push-in member 152 so that the stacked storage unit can then be placed by the laboratory item elevator 128 through the opening 130 in the base plate 90 into the workspace of the laboratory work module 56b or other laboratory work module 56 above it. Unless otherwise specified below, the laboratory work module is referred to as “56” without the lowercase letter.

[0166] The stacked storage unit 156 extends primarily in the z-direction and, during the operation of the laboratory layout 10, is moved along a displacement path V parallel to the z-direction by the laboratory item elevator 128.

[0167] The stackable storage unit 156 has a bottom 159 with a central opening to reduce weight. At the opposite upper longitudinal end, the stackable storage unit 156 has a closed, surrounding stabilizing structure 160 with a handle 162 extending through it. An operator can grip the handle 162 to lift, manipulate, and place the stackable storage unit 156.

[0168] The stacker enclosure 164 does not completely enclose the stacker 156 in the circumferential direction around the displacement path V. This allows the second delivery receiving device to engage with the stacker 156. (The text abruptly ends here, seemingly mid-sentence.) Figure 9 and Figure 10 A vertical guide rail 166 is provided on the observer's side, extending over at least 70% of the height dimension of the stacked storage unit 156. The vertical guide rail 166 cooperates with a vertical guide 126 at the laboratory work module 56b during operation to guide vertical upward and downward movements performed by the laboratory goods lift 128. The stacked storage unit 156 can be suspended in a vertical slot 168 of a suspension device 170 located on the inner side of the side wall 153 of the pusher 152 (see figure) by means of a journal (not shown in the figures) projecting orthogonally from the vertical guide rail 166, i.e., against the x-direction in the illustrated embodiment. Figure 11 Therefore, the stacked storage 156 can be provided in laboratory base module 42b or 42c or any other laboratory base module 42 until the stacked storage is ultimately used by the laboratory working module 56 disposed above it, such as laboratory working module 56b. Unless otherwise specified below, the laboratory base module is referred to as “42” without the lowercase letter.

[0169] Along the stacking axis S corresponding to the shift path V, in Figure 9 and Figure 10 In the embodiment shown, four receiving structures 171 are arranged sequentially to each other. The receiving structures 171 are used to receive the second subselection 158 for reception by the second delivery receiving device 104b of the second transport device 96 in the laboratory work module 56b.

[0170] The identically configured receiving structure 171 has a receiving frame, which corresponds in shape to the first receiving device 72. The receiving frame is a pre-receiving device 172 configured as a receiving frame. The pre-receiving device 172, like the first receiving device 72, is an external receiving device. The pre-receiving device, like the first receiving device 72, can also cooperate with delivery receiving devices 104a and 104b, preferably with the second delivery receiving device 104b, to transfer the provided subset 158 ​​between the stacked storage 156 and the delivery receiving devices. The description of the interaction between the first delivery receiving device 104a and the first receiving device 72 in this specification, with necessary modifications, also applies to the description of the interaction between the second delivery receiving device 104b and the pre-receiving device 172. Similarly, the description of the first receiving device 72 also applies to the description of the pre-receiving device 172.

[0171] In contrast to the first receiving device 72, the preparation receiving device 172 has a solid plate 174 extending from the base 172a of the receiving frame of the preparation receiving device 172 in its internal region 173. The leg corresponding to the leg 72b of the first receiving device 72 is similarly designated as 172b in the preparation receiving device 172. The same applies to the leg ends 172c that bend toward each other relative to the already described leg ends 72c.

[0172] For better overview, not all housing structures 171 are provided with other reference numerals in detail.

[0173] exist Figure 11 The image shows a push-in component 152 pulled out from the base and working module frame 46 in the opposite y direction. Figure 11 The basic and working module framework 46 exemplarily includes more than three laboratory basic modules 42, which is readily feasible within the scope of this invention. Figure 11 The laboratory basic module shown corresponds to laboratory basic module 42b in terms of its structural type.

[0174] Therefore, the operator can pull the pusher 152 out of the body 32 from the front side 12a of the laboratory arrangement 10, for example, to load the pusher 152 by suspending the stacked storage 156 in the suspension device 170 at the side wall 153 of the pusher 152, and to remove the consumed sub-selection 158 from the pusher 152 when necessary.

[0175] exist Figure 11 In the diagram, at the outermost stacked storage unit 156 at the very front, it is shown how the stacked storage unit is positioned along the z-direction, i.e., along the z-axis. Figure 11 The displacement path V, not shown, is via a pusher plate 154 that can be displaced in the height direction, i.e., in the z-direction (see...). Figure 8 It moves from its suspended position to the laboratory work module 56 located above it.

[0176] exist Figure 12 and Figure 13 The diagram illustrates the transfer of a microtiter plate 158c, as a first sub-selection 157 of laboratory items, from a group of laboratory items required for performing a pipetting task via a pipetting device 64, the group including the microtiter plate 158c as the target container, a source container 158a, and a pipetting tip assembly 158b.

[0177] exist Figure 12In an earlier state, the microtiter plate 158c is in a supporting engagement with the first receiving device 72, which has already moved the microtiter plate 158c along the first transport path 70 into the transfer area 176. In the transfer area 176, the microtiter plate 158c can be transferred from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a, or vice versa. When the first receiving device 72 is positioned along the first transport path 70 within the transfer area 176, the first receiving device 72 forms a transfer station 178 for transferring the microtiter plate 158c from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a.

[0178] The second transport device 96 has moved along its second transport segment 98 to a position in which the first delivery receiving device 104a, cooperating with the first receiving device 72 to transfer the microtiter plate 158c, is positioned below the inner region 73 of the first receiving device 72 covered by the microtiter plate 158c, such that, through the movement of the first delivery receiving device 104a, the first delivery receiving device can move vertically through the inner region 73 along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB to actuate the microtiter plate 158c. During this actuation, the microtiter plate 158c, which rests only on the first support surface assembly 77, is lifted from the support surface assembly. The support engagement between the microtiter plate 158c and the first receiving device 72 is thus released. Simultaneously, a support engagement is established between the microtiter plate 158c and the support surface assembly 132 of the first delivery receiving device 104a.

[0179] exist Figure 12 The diagram shows the situation before the microtiter plate 158c is transferred from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a, wherein the second receiving device 102, together with the receiving assembly 104 including the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving devices 104a and 104b, is in a position where it is fully lowered along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB.

[0180] Figure 13 The transfer area 176 is shown, in which the receiving assembly 104 is fully raised along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB, wherein the first delivery receiving device 104a passes completely through the inner region 73 of the first receiving device 72 in the vertical direction along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB, and here the microtiter plate 158c is lifted from the first receiving device 72 with the support engagement with the first delivery receiving device 104a established as described above.

[0181] exist Figure 12 and Figure 13 The vertical position of the first receiving device 72 remains unchanged because the movement along the first transport section 70 is the only degree of freedom of movement for the first receiving device 72 or the first transport equipment 68.

[0182] The transfer of the microtiter plate 158c from the first delivery receiving device 104a to the first receiving device 72 is carried out in reverse motion sequence, that is, the first delivery receiving device 104a, together with the microtiter plate 158c lying flat thereon, is moved above the first receiving device 72 prepared in the transfer area 176, and then lowered through the inner region 73 along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB, wherein the microtiter plate 158c remains at the first support surface assembly 77 in the case of establishing support engagement.

[0183] Regardless of the direction of transfer, this method of transfer of the microtiter plate 158c between the first delivery receiving device 104a and the first receiving device 72 is referred to in this application as peel transfer.

[0184] After the receiving assembly 104 moves out of the extension area of ​​the first receiving device 72 along the second transport segment 98, the receiving assembly is lowered along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB.

[0185] In principle, the transfer of laboratory articles having source container 158a and pipette tip assembly 158b as second sub-selection 158 between second delivery container 104b and preparation container 172 is performed in the same manner as the transfer of first sub-selection 157 or microtiter plate 158c between first delivery container 104a and first container 72.

[0186] The receiving assembly 104 or the first delivery receiving device 104a can be lowered along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB relative to the first receiving device 72 such that the first delivery receiving device 104a, along with the microtiter plate 158c resting thereon, can move along the second transport segment 98 to below the first receiving device 72 prepared in the transfer area 176. This allows the first receiving device 72 to move along the first transport segment 70 regardless of the loading of the first delivery receiving device 104a and its position along its second transport segment 98. Furthermore, this allows the microtiter plate 158c, which is in support engagement with the first delivery receiving device 104a, to move arbitrarily along the second transport segment 98.

[0187] like Figure 14 and Figure 15As shown, the pipetting device 64 draws liquid from its pipetting channel 92 into the microtiter plate 158c, which serves as the source container, and the microtiter plate rests flat on the first delivery receiving device 104a. Thus, the pipetting channel 92 only requires the mobility of its pipetting channel K, which extends parallel to the z-direction in the illustrated embodiment, as its sole degree of freedom. Therefore, the pipetting device 64 can be constructed significantly more simply and cost-effectively while maintaining the same positioning accuracy of its pipetting channel 92.

[0188] exist Figure 14 In this process, a second sub-selection 158 having multiple source containers 158a and multiple pipette tip assemblies 158b is received on and in support engagement with the second delivery receiving device 104b. The second sub-selection 158 received on the second delivery receiving device 104b has previously been removed from the currently empty preparation receiving device 172 of the stacked storage 156 raised along its shift path V parallel to the z-direction, i.e., transferred from the preparation receiving device 172 to the second delivery receiving device 104b by a transfer movement of the second delivery receiving device 104b.

[0189] In the example shown, the empty preparation receiving device 172 in the stacked storage 156 is the third preparation receiving device 172 from above. The preparation receiving device is... Figure 14 Located in preparation area 180, the second sub-selection 158 is capable of being transferred from the output preparation receiving device 172 to the receiving second delivery receiving device 104b. The stacked storage 156, together with the laboratory items elevator 128, forms preparation station 182, in which the desired second sub-selection 158 in the stacked storage 156 is provided for transfer from the stacked storage 156 to the receiving assembly 104.

[0190] Due to the uniformity of the configuration of the first receiving device 72 and the preparation receiving device 172, and due to the uniformity of the configuration of the placement surfaces of the sub-selections 157 and 158, the first transport device 68 can also transport the second sub-selection 158 in a transferable manner, and the stacking storage device 156 can transport the first sub-selection 157 in a transferable manner.

[0191] By using a second receiving device 102 having a receiving assembly 104 including the two delivery receiving devices 104a and 104b, a set of laboratory items required to perform pipetting tasks can be initially configured in the working area 186 of the pipetting device 64, the laboratory items being derived from a source container 158a containing a metering liquid to be pipetted, a pipetting tip assembly 158b having eight disposable pipetting tips 184 each, and a microtiter plate 158c serving as the source container.

[0192] exist Figure 15 The diagram shows the pipetting process in the working area 186 of the pipetting device 64 in the laboratory working module 56b.

[0193] The pipette tip assembly 158b provides eight disposable pipette tips 184 arranged side-by-side parallel to the x-direction, such that the disposable pipette tips 184 can be coupled to eight pipetting channels 92 also arranged side-by-side parallel to the x-direction. For this purpose, the coupling longitudinal end 184a is provided toward the longitudinal end of the pipetting channel 92.

[0194] Therefore, the second sub-selection 158 is first moved into the working area 186 of the pipetting device 64, enabling the pipetting device 64 to couple the disposable pipette tip 184 of the pipetting tip assembly 158b to the pipetting channel 92. Subsequently, the source container 158a is moved below the metering opening of the coupled disposable pipette tip 184, enabling the pipetting device 64 to draw metered liquid from the source container 158a.

[0195] Subsequently, the microtiter plate 158c is moved below the disposable pipette tip 184 housed in the pipetting channel 92, enabling the pipetting device 64 to dispense the metered liquid drawn from the disposable pipette plate 184 into the individual orifices 188 of the microtiter plate 158c. The orifices 188 are arranged in a known matrix in the microtiter plate 158c, in an 8×12 matrix in the example shown. Therefore, metered liquid can be simultaneously dispensed row by row into one of twelve rows of orifices, each containing eight orifices 188.

[0196] The disposable pipette tip 184 can be placed back into its receiving portion after use and decoupled from the pipetting channel 92. Alternatively, the disposable pipette tip 184 can be pushed out of the pipetting channel into the waste container after use through opening 130 or another opening in the substrate 90. The waste container can be provided in the laboratory base module 42b located below the laboratory work module 56b.

[0197] The second transport device 96 can move a row distance between the two distributions, so that it can be subsequently distributed to a new row with eight holes 188.

[0198] After performing the pipetting task, the microtiter plate 158c now filled with the metered liquid can be placed in another laboratory work module 56b, for example, in a laboratory work module 56a with an incubator 58, by means of the first delivery container 104a and the second transport device 96.

Claims

1. A laboratory module shelf (36) comprising at least two laboratory base modules (42) and at least two laboratory working modules (56), wherein the at least two laboratory base modules (42) form a lower base module plane (38) of the laboratory module shelf (36), and wherein the at least two laboratory working modules (56) form an upper working module plane (40) of the laboratory module shelf (36) disposed above the base module plane (38), wherein a laboratory base module (42) is present below at least one laboratory working module (56), wherein each laboratory working module (56) includes a processing device (60) and a transport component (99) for transporting laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) at least to the processing device (60). The transport component (99) has a first transport device and a second transport device (68, 96). The first transport device (68) has a first receiving device (72) for accommodating the laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) for transporting the laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) via the first transport device (68), and the second transport device (96) has a second receiving device (102) for accommodating the laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) for transporting the laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) via the second transport device (96). The first receiving device (72) is movable along the first transport section (70), and the second receiving device (102) is movable along a second transport section (98) that is different from the first transport section (70) and extends laterally to the first transport section. The transport component (99) has a transfer area (176) in which the transport component (99) constitutes a transport device (68, 96) for transferring transported laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) from a first transport device and a second transport device (68, 96) for output to a corresponding other transport device (68, 96) in the first transport device and the second transport device (68, 96) for receiving. The at least two laboratory work modules (56) follow each other along the extension direction of the first transport segment (70), and The at least two laboratory work modules (56) therein share a common first transport device (68) and each has its own second transport device (96) and a transfer area (176).

2. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 1. Its features are, The first transport segment (70) and the second transport segment (98) extend only within the working module plane (40).

3. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 1 or 2. Its features are, At least one laboratory module (42, 56) of the laboratory module shelf (36) has a laboratory item lift (128) by means of which at least one laboratory item (158a, 158b, 158c) can be moved between the laboratory working module (56) and the laboratory base module (42) located below the laboratory working module (56).

4. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 3. Its features are, The laboratory item elevator (128) has a stacked storage unit (156) that can be moved between the working module plane (40) and the base module plane (38), and in the stacked storage unit are accommodating structures (171) that follow each other along the moving direction (V) of the stacked storage unit (156), the accommodating structures being used to accommodate one laboratory item (158a, 158b, 158c).

5. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The laboratory working module (56) has a bottom dimension in each of two mutually orthogonal bottom spatial directions, wherein the bottom dimension differs from the larger dimension along the same spatial direction by no more than 7.5%.

6. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The laboratory base module (42) has a base dimension in each of two mutually orthogonal base spatial directions, wherein the base dimension differs from the larger dimension along the same spatial direction by no more than 7.5%.

7. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, At least the laboratory working module (56) has a working module frame (46) which is configured as a truss.

8. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The laboratory basic module (42) has a basic module frame (46), which is configured as a truss.

9. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The laboratory module shelf (36) has a common enclosure (12) as a protective shell (12) that shields its multiple laboratory modules (42, 56) from the external environment (U) of the laboratory module shelf (36).

10. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 9. Its features are, The interior space (14) of the laboratory module shelf (36) can be accessed from the outside via the following side (12a) of the common encapsulation (12) as the entrance side (12a), along which the first transport section (70) extends.

11. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 10. Its features are, The common encapsulation (12) has an entrance side (12a) that can be opened and closed by a door or / and a flap or / and a roller shutter.

12. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 11. Its features are, The common encapsulation (12) has at least one maintenance opening as an entry opening on the upper working module plane (40), through which the first transport device (68) can be reached.

13. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of claims 10 to 12. Its features are, The common encapsulation (12) has at least one loading opening as an inlet opening on the lower base module plane (38), through which at least one laboratory item (158a, 158b, 158c) can be loaded into the laboratory base module (42).

14. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to claim 13. Its features are, At least one laboratory base module (42) has a pull-out loading element (152).

15. The laboratory module shelf (36) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, At least one laboratory base module (42) has at least one storage device (156) for storing laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) and / or a preparation device (44) for preparing laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) for use in a laboratory work module (56).

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