Pipetting laboratory module with special feed mode for pipetting devices

Abstract

A laboratory module (56) includes: a) a pipetting device (64) for aspirating and dispensing liquids; b) a set of different laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) including a source container (158a), a target container (158c), and a pipetting tip assembly (158b) having at least one pipetting tip (184) as different laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c); and c) a delivery transport device (96) movable along a delivery transport route (98) for transporting laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) at least to the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64), wherein the delivery transport device (96) is configured to transport a first sub-selection Set (157) is transported from the transfer station (178) of the laboratory module (56) to the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64). The first sub-set includes one or two different laboratory items (158c) from the source container (158a), the target container (158c), and the pipetting tip assembly (158b). It also constitutes a means to transport a second sub-set (158) from a preparation station (182) different from the transfer station (178) to the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64). The second sub-set includes laboratory items (158a, 158b) from the source container (158a), the target container (158c), and the pipetting tip assembly (158b) that are not included in the first sub-set (157).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a laboratory module for transferring liquids. The laboratory module includes:

[0002] a) A pipetting device used as a processing device for drawing and dispensing liquids.

[0003] b) A set of different laboratory items, wherein the set includes a source container, a target container, and a pipette tip assembly, as different laboratory items. The pipette tip assembly includes at least one pipette tip.

[0004] c) A delivery transport device that can move along a delivery transport route, the delivery transport device being used to transport laboratory items at least to the working area of ​​the pipetting device. Background Technology

[0005] 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. Since multiple laboratory functions are required in such a layout, other laboratory modules will either also have pipetting equipment or other processing equipment with additional functions.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] EP 0 990 906 A1 mentions sample tubes, liquid containers, and disposable pipette tips as possible transportable components.

[0013] 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 gaining 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.

[0014] 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 a predetermined transfer position at the corresponding device, determined by the shape of the loading nozzle.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] The loading component can move within the main body of the equipment in a horizontal direction that is orthogonal to both its horizontal extension and retraction movements and the vertical movement direction of the elevator.

[0021] 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 the lift to the working area of ​​the pipetting apparatus.

[0022] 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 analytical station. Loading and unloading devices are provided at the analytical station, which move the sample carriers from the conveyor belt to the analytical station, or vice versa. The analytical apparatus also includes a sample carrier storage unit as a transport buffer, in which sample carriers can be intermediately stored and selected for re-analysis even after initial analysis.

[0023] 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.

[0024] As the sample carrier moves horizontally along the conveyor belt, it moves vertically within a sample carrier storage unit to transfer the desired stored sample carrier to the conveyor belt. The sample carrier is identified by a barcode. At least one station in the analytical apparatus is a barcode reader.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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 can receive the corresponding uppermost microtiter plate from 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.

[0029] By rotating the turntable, a specific storage column among multiple storage columns arranged circumferentially around its axis of rotation can be engaged as an active storage column in cooperation with the lifting device. Then, the lifting device can gradually raise the microtiter plates stacked vertically in the active storage column, so that the uppermost microtiter plate is at the transfer height level and can be received by the pickup device. Summary of the Invention

[0030] The object of this invention is to improve the type of laboratory module mentioned at the beginning, so that its pipetting device can be configured as efficiently as possible to perform pipetting tasks.

[0031] The present invention addresses the objective of the laboratory module of the type mentioned at the beginning by means of a delivery transport device configured to transport a first sub-selection from a transfer station of the laboratory module to the working area of ​​the pipetting device, the first sub-selection comprising one or two different laboratory items from a source container, a target container, and a pipetting tip assembly; and the delivery transport device is further configured to transport a second sub-selection from a preparation station different from the transfer station to the working area of ​​the pipetting device, the second sub-selection comprising laboratory items from the source container, the target container, and the pipetting tip assembly that are not included in the first sub-selection.

[0032] Preferably, the first and second sub-selections are complementary sub-selections, which complement each other to form the different laboratory items in the group.

[0033] In other words, laboratory items are supplied to the pipetting device or its working area not only from the transfer station but also, additionally, from a preparation station different from the transfer station. Therefore, a first sub-set can be provided at one of the transfer or preparation stations for transport to the working area of ​​the pipetting device, and a second sub-set can be provided at the corresponding other station for transport to the working area of ​​the pipetting device. Thus, a group of different laboratory items can be assembled and formed directly in the working area of ​​the pipetting device, which not only increases the flexibility of the pipetting device with respect to the pipetting tasks it can perform but also reduces the cost and significantly shortens the time required to supply the pipetting device with a different set of laboratory items, wherein the set includes at least a source container, a target container, and a pipetting tip assembly. That is, instead of having to pre-configure a set of laboratory items into the laboratory module, the laboratory items can be provided at two locations within the laboratory module, so that the set of laboratory items used by the pipetting device is configured only upon arrival in the working area.

[0034] In principle, it is sufficient to place laboratory items intended for pipetting tasks solely within the working area of ​​the pipetting equipment when delivering the transport equipment. Laboratory items, such as in the case of pipetting tip assemblies, may be disposed of immediately at the pipetting equipment or within its working area after use for hygiene reasons. The same applies to source containers, which are emptied after the pipetting task, thereby eliminating the need for return transport of the source containers.

[0035] After a pipetting task is performed on the target container, it can be transported from the working area of ​​the pipetting apparatus using another transport device. However, preferably, the delivery transport device not only transports the laboratory item to the working area of ​​the pipetting apparatus but also transports it out of the working area, thus keeping the number of transport devices required low. This applies in principle to any possible laboratory item, but is particularly applicable to target containers. One possible target container is a microtiter plate. Microtiter plates typically have a matrix arrangement of so-called "wells".

[0036] The source container of this group is preferably filled with the liquid to be pipetted by the pipetting device, so that the pipetting device can be delivered to the transport device with all the process objects required to perform its pipetting task.

[0037] In addition to the laboratory items mentioned above, namely the target container, source container, and pipette tip assembly, the group of different laboratory items may also include at least one additional laboratory item, which may be transported to the working area of ​​the pipette device by means of delivery transport equipment, particularly from at least one of the transfer station and preparation station or / and from another transport equipment, and preferably transported out of the working area again.

[0038] The handover station and the preparation station are not only physically separate, but preferably spatially separated, so that receiving a sub-selection from one station does not, or minimally, hinder the receiving of another sub-selection from the corresponding other station. This avoids collisions between sub-selections. Therefore, according to a preferred improvement, the handover station and the preparation station are spaced apart from each other along the delivery transport route.

[0039] The handover station and / or preparation station can, in principle, be manually equipped with either the first or second sub-selection set by an operator. However, for greater automation, and thus to reduce the risk of human error and improve process hygiene, it is preferable that the handover station includes supply transport equipment configured to transport at least one sub-selection set from the first and second sub-selection sets to the handover area. In the handover area, the supply transport equipment and delivery transport equipment are configured to transfer the transported sub-selection set at least from the supply transport equipment to the delivery transport equipment. Preferably, the supply transport equipment and delivery transport equipment in the handover area are configured for bidirectional transfer of the sub-selection set between the two transport equipments. The supply transport equipment is preferably movable along a supply transport route.

[0040] The extension of the supply transport segment and / or delivery transport segment is preferably defined by linear motion guiding devices, such as guide rails and / or guide rods and / or guide slots. Each linear motion guiding device ensures that the supply receiving device or delivery receiving device is guided to move along the respective transport segment of the supply transport segment and delivery transport segment in two opposite directions of movement. Preferably, the supply receiving device can only move along its supply transport segment in two opposite directions of movement.

[0041] The supply transport segment and the delivery transport segment preferably extend in linearly independent directions, and particularly preferably are orthogonal to each other.

[0042] The corresponding situation applies to the preparation station. Therefore, the laboratory module is preferably modified such that the preparation station includes transport equipment, wherein the transport equipment is configured to transport one of the first and second sub-selections to the preparation area. In the preparation area, the transport equipment and delivery transport equipment are configured to transfer the transported sub-selection at least from the transport equipment to the delivery transport equipment. Preferably, the transport equipment and delivery transport equipment are configured for bidirectional transfer of the sub-selection therebetween.

[0043] The transport equipment is also preferably movable along a transport route, which is preferably extended in a direction different from at least one of the extension directions of the delivery transport route and the supply transport route, preferably each of the extension directions, and particularly preferably linearly independent of said extension directions. Preferably, the transport routes of the transport equipment, the supply transport equipment, and the delivery transport equipment extend laterally in pairs, more preferably orthogonally in pairs. Also preferably, the supply transport route and the delivery transport route extend horizontally, while the transport route preferably extends vertically.

[0044] In an advantageous improvement, the laboratory module discussed herein, as a laboratory working module, can be part of a laboratory layout that, in addition to the laboratory working module currently discussed, also includes a laboratory base module, which is located below the laboratory working module and preferably carries it. The transport equipment can then be configured as an elevator that moves the sub-selections from the laboratory base module toward the laboratory working module to the preparation station and, if desired, returns. The elevator is preferably a stacked storage unit or has a stacked storage unit in which, along the displacement direction of the stacked storage unit, i.e., preferably along the vertical displacement direction, are arranged sequentially to accommodate one sub-selection at a time. A stacked storage unit is an example of a storage device. Because the laboratory items elevator also transports the laboratory items housed therein, the laboratory items elevator is also a transport device. The laboratory items elevator, as a transport device, can be part of the laboratory working module, part of the laboratory base module, or both, in which it transports laboratory items.

[0045] The laboratory base module is accessible from the outside and can be loaded with sub-selections by robots or operators. The sub-selections loaded into the laboratory base module can then be lifted upwards into the laboratory module by a transport device, where they can be received by a delivery transport device and further transported to the pipetting apparatus. The laboratory base module may have a pull-out loading section or a pull-out pushing section to facilitate operator work at the laboratory base module, such as loading laboratory items, particularly its storage devices.

[0046] Although transport segments can theoretically have a curved extension, for the sake of simplicity and efficiency in transporting subselections within the laboratory module, preferably, at least one of the transport segments in the supply transport segment, delivery transport segment, and transport transport segment extends in a straight line. Particularly preferably, two or even more preferably all three transport segments mentioned above extend in a straight line. This simplifies the implementation of transport drives and motion guides at the supply transport equipment and / or delivery transport equipment and / or transport equipment. For each transport device from the supply transport equipment and delivery transport equipment, the transport drive can be selected based on the length of the transport segment. The transport drive may include a screw drive mechanism. The transport drive may have a belt drive mechanism. Other types of transport drives are not excluded, of course.

[0047] In principle, it is conceivable that each of the supply transport equipment and the delivery equipment can transport and provide, and in operation, actually provide, every arbitrary sub-selection. However, for the sake of simplified operational organization of the laboratory module, it is preferred that the supply transport equipment be configured to transport one sub-selection from the first and second sub-selections to the transfer area, and the delivery equipment be configured to transport the corresponding other sub-selection from the first and second sub-selections to the preparation area. Thus, the same equipment in the supply transport equipment and the delivery equipment can always be loaded with the same sub-selection from the first and second sub-selections to provide the corresponding sub-selection in one of the transfer area and the preparation area, and from there transported to the working area of ​​the pipetting device by the delivery transport equipment.

[0048] Preferably, the delivery transport equipment has a delivery receiving component for accommodating a subselection for transporting the subselection via the delivery transport equipment.

[0049] In order to transfer the sub-selection transported by the supply transport equipment from the supply transport equipment to the delivery transport equipment, and preferably in the opposite direction of transfer, the supply transport equipment, as a device cooperating with the delivery transport equipment, preferably has a supply receiving device for accommodating the sub-selection for transport by the supply transport equipment.

[0050] Thus, the supply receiving device is a receiving device that cooperates with the delivery receiving component to transfer the subselection from the supply receiving device to the delivery receiving component, and preferably also in the opposite direction.

[0051] Additionally or alternatively, for the purpose of transferring the subselection from the transport equipment to the delivery receiving component and preferably also in the opposite direction, the transport equipment may have a prepared receiving device for receiving the subselection for transport by the transport equipment, as an apparatus that cooperates with the delivery transport equipment.

[0052] Therefore, the preparation containment device is a containment device that cooperates with the delivery containment component to transfer the subselection from the preparation containment device to the delivery containment component.

[0053] Preferably, for the subselection to be transferred particularly efficiently between the delivery receiving component and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving component without the need for grippers and sliders, at least one receiving component of the delivery receiving component and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving component can be driven to perform a transfer movement.

[0054] Particularly preferably, the entire laboratory module is a cost-effectively manufactured module sufficient to function without a gripper, especially without a gripper movable in three Cartesian spatial directions, as an operator of laboratory items. Preferably, the laboratory module also does not have a slider as an operator of laboratory items.

[0055] As an advantageous prerequisite for the preferred peel-off transfer of the transported sub-selection from one receiving component of the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly to another receiving component of the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly, the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly are physically different, such that the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly can move relative to each other along a transfer trajectory caused by the transfer movement of at least one receiving component. Here, the transfer movement preferably disengages the sub-selection from the receiving component that outputs the sub-selection. Equally preferably, the transfer movement establishes the receiving engagement of the sub-selection with the receiving component that receives the sub-selection.

[0056] The most stable possible support for the corresponding sub-selection on the delivery receiving component and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving component can be achieved by the following method: one receiving component of the delivery receiving component and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving component has a receiving frame as an outer receiving component, the receiving frame extending around a free internal region of the outer receiving component, wherein the other corresponding receiving component of the delivery receiving component and the receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving component has a receiving carrier as an inner receiving component, such that the relative movement of the inner receiving component along the transfer relative movement trajectory through the outer receiving component is the relative movement of the receiving carrier through the internal region of the receiving frame.

[0057] In order to ensure that the transported sub-selection is preferably transferred in a peel-off manner without grippers or sliders between the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device that cooperates with the delivery receiving assembly, the receiving engagement of the sub-selection with the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device that cooperates with the delivery receiving assembly respectively includes a support engagement.

[0058] More precisely, the support connection is preferably established by placing or resting the laboratory items on the receiving device of the corresponding transport equipment. Similarly, the support connection is preferably disengaged by lifting the laboratory items from the receiving device of the corresponding transport equipment.

[0059] However, this does not necessarily mean that the sub-selection is transported loosely and only frictionally engaged on the receiving device. While this is possible in principle, the frictional engagement between the sub-selection and the corresponding receiving device limits the maximum possible acceleration and deceleration of the receiving device. If the delivery receiving assembly or the receiving device cooperating with it, preferably the delivery receiving assembly and the receiving device cooperating with it, have at least one form-fitting element, preferably multiple form-fitting elements, such as protrusions and / or recesses, a transport assembly with greater dynamics can be obtained. This form-fitting element restricts the movement of the sub-selection, as specified for transport, on the receiving device, parallel to its supporting engagement contact surface in at least one direction, preferably in opposite directions, particularly preferably along each of two mutually orthogonal and parallel displacement axes of the contact surface. The sub-selection can then be accelerated from rest with high acceleration and similarly braked from motion with high deceleration without concern for displacement of the sub-selection relative to the receiving device carrying it. The supporting engagement contact surface is the surface of the sub-selection that contacts the receiving device in its supporting engagement with the receiving device.

[0060] To establish the preferred support engagement between the sub-selection and its corresponding receiving device as described above during sub-selection transport, it is sufficient for the delivery receiving device to have a delivery support surface assembly for receiving laboratory articles by placing them on the delivery support surface assembly, and for the supply receiving device to have a supply support surface assembly for receiving the sub-selection by placing it on a second support surface assembly. Clamping devices or other securing devices to prevent the sub-selection from lifting at the delivery receiving device are unnecessary and, preferably, absent. To secure the position of the laboratory articles on the corresponding receiving device, the support surface assembly 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 delivery and supply support surface assemblies.

[0061] Therefore, the laboratory items being transported are preferably laid flat on the container during transport and can always be lifted from the container during transport.

[0062] 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; however, they do not necessarily 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.

[0063] It should be clarified here that the containment device that cooperates with the delivery containment component can be a supply containment device or / or a preparation containment device.

[0064] 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 can be bent toward the corresponding other frame leg.

[0065] In order to preferably simultaneously transport, along the delivery transport route, a first sub-set and a second sub-set, particularly preferably complementary sub-sets forming a group of different laboratory items, according to a preferred improvement of the invention, the delivery receiving assembly may have two delivery receiving devices respectively constituting for receiving the sub-sets for transport by the delivery transport equipment, the two delivery receiving devices being able to move together along the second transport route. Preferably, the two delivery receiving devices of the delivery receiving assembly can only move together along the second transport route.

[0066] For joint movement along the delivery transport route, the two delivery receiving devices are preferably connected to a common delivery transport base that is also movable along the delivery transport route. The delivery transport base can then work in conjunction with a transport actuator, and / or be guided at a delivery motion guide for movement along the delivery transport route. Accelerating and decelerating forces can then preferably act directly on the delivery transport base, just as the forces guiding the delivery receiving components along the delivery transport route. This protects the delivery receiving device constituting the purpose of receiving at least one laboratory item from such forces.

[0067] To achieve the highest possible positioning accuracy, the delivery transport base preferably has no translational degrees of freedom other than its mobility along the delivery transport route. The delivery transport base also preferably has no rotational degrees of freedom. The delivery receiving assembly also preferably has no rotational degrees of freedom.

[0068] Preferably, the receiving device, which is drivable for transfer movement and is a delivery receiving assembly or at least one delivery receiving device thereof, is preferably connected, particularly preferably rigidly connected, to a transfer base, which itself is movably guided relative to the transport base of the receiving device. The transport base of the receiving device may then have a transfer movement actuator and, if necessary, a transfer movement guide, at which the transfer base is drivably guided. Thus, the transport movement of the transport base is advantageously independent of the transfer movement of the associated receiving device. The transfer movement includes translational movement. Preferably, the transfer movement is only translational movement.

[0069] 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 such a device may be, to name only a few.

[0070] One possible transfer motion actuator may include a screw drive mechanism, a piston-cylinder device, a belt drive mechanism, etc.

[0071] Because the delivery receiving assembly must be able to receive sub-selections from both the handover station and the preparation station, it is preferable to use a delivery receiving assembly, and particularly preferably only a delivery receiving assembly configured to carry out the transfer movement, in order to keep the number of required actuators and motion guides small. If the delivery receiving assembly has a first delivery receiving device and a second delivery receiving device, they are preferably, and particularly preferably only, jointly actuated to perform the transfer movement, which is preferably transverse to, and particularly preferably orthogonal to, the directional extension of the delivery transport segment.

[0072] For the purpose of simplifying the operation of the laboratory module, it is conceivable that the first delivery receiving device of the two delivery receiving devices is configured to transfer a sub-selection from the supply receiving device to the first delivery receiving device, and the second delivery receiving device of the two delivery receiving devices is configured to transfer a corresponding other sub-selection from the preparation receiving device to the second delivery receiving device.

[0073] In principle, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device can be configured identically. However, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device can be configured differently, for example, when only one of the two delivery receiving devices has the functional means which will be described in detail below.

[0074] Since they are preferably arranged sequentially along the delivery transport route, only one of the first and second delivery receiving devices can preferably cooperate with the supply receiving device to transfer the sub-selection. Also preferably, the other corresponding receiving device of the first and second delivery receiving devices can cooperate with the preparation receiving device to transfer the sub-selection.

[0075] According to the design described above, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device can each be configured as external receiving devices and each have a receiving frame extending around a free internal region of the external receiving device. Alternatively, the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device can each be configured as internal receiving devices and have a receiving support member. To use as many identical components as possible in the laboratory module, when the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are configured as external receiving devices, the preparation receiving device and the supply receiving device are configured as internal receiving devices. Alternatively, when the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device are configured as internal receiving devices, the preparation receiving device and the supply receiving device are configured as external receiving devices. Thus, preferably, the relative movement of the internal receiving device along the transfer relative movement trajectory through the external receiving device is the relative movement of the receiving support member through the internal region of the receiving frame.

[0076] In principle, one of the first and second delivery receiving devices can also be configured as an external receiving device, while the corresponding other delivery receiving device can be configured as an internal receiving device. Similarly, one of the preparation receiving device and the supply receiving device is configured as an external receiving device, while the corresponding other is configured as an internal receiving device, depending on which delivery receiving device it cooperates with to transfer laboratory items. However, to make the best use of the structural space of the laboratory module, it is preferable that the delivery receiving devices moving together along the delivery transport route have approximately the same size; therefore, the delivery receiving devices are preferably configured as receiving devices of the same type, consisting of both external and internal receiving devices.

[0077] The receiving support member can also have the essentially C-shaped or O-shaped shape described above, which results in an advantageously small moving mass of the receiving support member due to the absence of material in the internal region. To allow the receiving support member to pass through the free internal region of the receiving frame, the receiving support member is configured with smaller external dimensions compared to the receiving frame.

[0078] Regardless of which receiving device is designed to receive a carrier or has a carrier, the carrier may have a solid plate to provide a secure supporting engagement between the sub-selection and the carrier. The solid plate may have a support surface assembly for supporting the sub-selection or may contribute to forming the support surface assembly. The support surface assembly may have a single continuous support surface or multiple support surfaces arranged separately from each other, on which the sub-selection can be placed for transport.

[0079] In order to enable the subselection to act in a desired manner during the support engagement of the subselection and the supply containment device, the preparation containment device, and the delivery containment device, especially the first delivery containment device and / or one of the containment devices in the second delivery containment device, and to enable the pipetting device to perform its pipetting tasks, at least one containment device, especially the containment frame and / or the containment carrier, may have thermal and / or electrical and / or magnetic functional devices that act on the transported subselection or in conjunction with the pipetting device of the laboratory module.

[0080] For example, the housing frame and / or housing support members, especially the solid plate housing the support members, may have at least one heating element by which the sub-assemblies in support engagement with the housing can be heated or warmed. The solid plate may serve as a heat-conducting plate to support and, in particular, surround at least one heating element, ensuring that the heat output from the heating element is distributed as uniformly as possible within the solid plate. For this purpose, the solid plate may be made of metal or of a material having a thermal conductivity comparable to that of metals, especially aluminum or copper.

[0081] Alternatively or additionally, the functional device may be configured as an electrical functional device in the form of a potential electrode having a predetermined potential, or electrically connected or switchably connected, so as to form an electric field together with another electrode disposed in the laboratory module, wherein the sub-selection is then in the electric field when it is received on a receiving device having a potential electrode and is within the influence range of the other electrode.

[0082] Further, or alternatively, the functional device may include an electromagnet or a plurality of permanent magnets movable relative to each other, such that a variable magnetic field can be generated by the functional device. Therefore, the sub-sets housed in a housing with the functional device can be specifically subjected to the magnetic field. This may be of interest, for example, when the sub-sets include or are containers, particularly target containers, and where suspended magnetic or magnetizable particles are present in the containers. Furthermore, the functional device can thus form an actuator for a magnetic tube.

[0083] Preferably, at least one delivery receiving device of the delivery receiving assembly includes a magnetic and / or electrical and / or thermal functional device, because the functional device can carry the subselection directly up to the pipetting process, or even preferably during the pipetting process, so as to magnetically and / or electrically and / or thermally influence the subselection up to shortly before or even during the pipetting process.

[0084] The pipetting device has at least one pipetting channel extending along the channel axis. The pipetting device may have multiple, preferably parallel, pipetting channels to draw and dispense the liquid to be measured in parallel.

[0085] Preferably, at least one pipetting channel of the pipetting device is movable only along its channel axis, allowing the pipetting channel to approach and move away from sub-selections within the working area. Possible desired movements of the sub-selections orthogonal to the channel axis of at least one pipetting channel can be achieved by the delivery transport device. Ensuring precise positioning of the delivery receiving assembly is sufficient only. Sufficiently precise positioning of the sub-selections relative to the delivery receiving assembly, particularly relative to the first and second delivery receiving devices, can be ensured by the shape of the delivery receiving assembly or relative to the first and second delivery receiving devices, for example, by form-fitting elements as mentioned above. Ensuring the correct relative position of the axis of at least one pipetting channel with respect to the delivery transport route is crucial during the installation of the laboratory module. For frictionless kinematic operation of the laboratory module, it is sufficient that at least one pipetting channel is precisely positioned along its channel axis and the delivery receiving assembly is precisely positioned along its delivery transport route. Preferably, the delivery receiving assembly carries at least the target container during the pipetting process.

[0086] To allow the first and second delivery receiving devices to move along the delivery transport route into the working area of ​​a pipetting device having at least one pipetting channel that can move only along its channel axis, the first and second delivery receiving devices are preferably arranged sequentially along the delivery transport route. For the same reason, the first and second delivery receiving devices are fixedly arranged on the delivery transport device relative to each other.

[0087] A pipetting device receiving device may also be provided at the pipetting device, and a delivery receiving assembly, particularly at least one of the two delivery receiving devices, may transfer the sub-selections transported therethrough to the pipetting device receiving device, and may receive the sub-selections again from the pipetting device receiving device. The description of the receiving device above also applies to the pipetting device receiving device. However, preferably, such a pipetting device receiving device is not necessary, but rather the first sub-selection and / or the second sub-selection, preferably the first and second sub-selections, remain on the delivery receiving assembly during the pipetting device coupling at least one pipetting tip of the sub-selection to at least one pipetting channel, or / and during the pipetting device drawing liquid to be measured from the source container, or / and during the pipetting device dispensing the drawn liquid into the target container. Particularly preferably, this allows for an aliquotierbetrieb operation, during which target containers having multiple receiving volumes sequentially arranged along the delivery transport path move in incremental steps corresponding to the spacing of the sequentially arranged receiving volumes beneath at least one pipetting channel. Then, each time the new containment volume stops below the pipetting channel, at least one pipetting channel dispenses a certain amount of liquid into the containment volume as part of the previously aspirated liquid volume.

[0088] Experiments have shown that the target container is advantageously transported independently of the pipette tip assembly and the source container because, unlike the pipette tip assembly and generally also the source container, the target container is delivered after the pipetting process to other sensitive laboratory procedures, such as incubation and / or analytical methods. Therefore, preferably, the first sub-selection includes the target container, and the second sub-selection includes the source container and the pipette tip assembly. The second sub-selection may include a carrier that removably contains both the pipette tip assembly and the source container with the liquid to be measured. The pipette tip assembly is preferably housed in the carrier such that its longitudinal end, which is coupled to at least one longitudinal end of a pipetting channel, is positioned in a ready-to-couple manner toward and is accessible to the longitudinal end of the pipetting channel.

[0089] The pipette tip assembly may include at least one conductive pipette tip. The at least one conductive pipette tip may form another electrode as mentioned above in the laboratory module. If the delivery container carrying the target container during the pipetting process has an electrode as a functional device that works in conjunction with the conductive pipette tip to form an electric field, then the electric field formed between the conductive pipette tip housed in the pipetting channel and the functional device of the delivery container configured as an electrode can be extremely advantageously used for capacitive detection of the liquid surface in a source container, particularly in a microtiter plate, positioned within the electric field.

[0090] The laboratory module may have at least one storage device for temporarily storing laboratory items, which cooperates with a delivery transport device to transfer, preferably by peeling, laboratory items. To keep the number of different components low, the receiving device of the storage device may be designed similarly to the supply receiving device and / or the preparation receiving device mentioned below. The storage device may have the functional elements mentioned above, such as a heater and / or a magnetic field source and / or electrodes, optionally combined with the solid plate described above, to heat the laboratory items contained thereon or subject them to a magnetic field and / or an electric field or / or enable the contents of the laboratory items to be stirred by means of a magnetic stirrer.

[0091] Preferably, the laboratory module has a modular frame that houses and / or surrounds the laboratory module. The modular frame is preferably configured as a truss, for example, as a cuboid frame that is particularly well connectable on all sides, so that multiple laboratory modules can be arranged side-by-side or / and stacked sequentially or / and vertically, and connected to each other. The delivery transport equipment is preferably entirely within the structural space of the laboratory module. Due to the preferred improvements described below, the supply transport equipment is preferably at least partially within the structural space of the laboratory module.

[0092] The modular frame may have exactly one laboratory module, however this is not preferred. Preferably, the modular frame is configured to accommodate more than one laboratory module, particularly preferably at least three, which are arranged sequentially along the supply transport path at or within the modular frame. If the modular frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory module (which is preferred), the supply transport equipment is also preferably fully accommodated on or within the modular frame, wherein the supply transport path then preferably extends through the laboratory modules accommodated within the modular frame. Laboratory modules accommodated at or within a common modular frame typically have different processing devices to provide different functions. Thus, at least one of the processing devices is a pipetting device.

[0093] The laboratory modules described above are characterized by extremely high positioning accuracy of the transported laboratory items, while minimizing equipment costs. As the name suggests, an advantage of laboratory modules is that multiple modules, typically with different tasks or functional orientations, can be modularly configured into a larger unit. Therefore, the invention also relates to a laboratory arrangement comprising at least one laboratory module as described and improved above, and at least one other laboratory module as described and improved in principle above, as a laboratory working module, provided that, instead of a pipetting device, at least one additional laboratory module is a different processing device with a different function than pipetting. Therefore, the description given above for the laboratory modules applies to at least one additional laboratory module, provided that the pipetting device is typically replaced by a processing device that performs the processing of the laboratory items delivered to it by the delivery transport device. The laboratory items delivered to the other laboratory module by the delivery transport device can be one of the sub-selections mentioned above, a group of the laboratory items mentioned above, or a single laboratory item, such as sample containers, sensors, specimens, etc. At least two laboratory work modules, including at least one laboratory module and at least one additional laboratory module, are preferably arranged in a laboratory layout that follows each other along the extension direction of the supply transport route. This laboratory layout allows for a particular increase in efficiency by having at least two laboratory modules share a common supply transport device and each have at least one, preferably exactly one, delivery transport device and a transfer area.

[0094] Therefore, the supply transport equipment reaches at least two laboratory work modules of the laboratory layout, thereby enabling the transport of sub-selections or general laboratory items from one laboratory work module of the laboratory layout to another laboratory work module within the same laboratory layout. Conversely, each laboratory work module preferably has its own delivery transport equipment that moves laboratory items transported by the supply transport equipment to the corresponding laboratory work module and then back again. According to the above definition of a laboratory work module, each laboratory work module has a processing device. The processing device delivers laboratory items via the delivery transport equipment, while the supply transport equipment transports laboratory items to and from the various laboratory work modules of the laboratory layout. Preferably, the processing device delivers laboratory items only via the delivery transport equipment, and there is no processing device as a transport destination along the supply transport route.

[0095] To perform laboratory technical tasks on the treated object, such as measuring and analyzing the treated object or / and defining the composition of a pourable mixture of treated objects or / and separating a defined amount of pourable treated objects, the laboratory module therefore includes processing equipment, distinct from transport equipment, for carrying out laboratory technical processing procedures. The treated object can be a solid or a liquid. In cases where the laboratory module is currently preferably used for analyzing and / or producing biological and / or chemical, particularly biochemical and / or pharmaceutical, processing objects are typically liquids, with suspensions and emulsions also considered liquids within the scope of this application. The processing of the treated object in the processing equipment is typically carried out in a single laboratory article, contained in or on said laboratory article, for example, in or at a single microtiter plate.

[0096] 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 carried by the transported laboratory items, such as via RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology; these are just two examples. Furthermore, the laboratory work module may include, for example, an incubator or cleaning equipment for cleaning laboratory items, particularly microtiter plates.

[0097] In contrast to the processed object, laboratory articles are functional solids such as containers, particularly sample containers and microtiter plates, and pipette tips, which enable or support laboratory technical processing of the processed object without 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 typically serves as an unavoidable incidental measurement object, in addition to the processed article as the actual measurement object, and / or to compensate for and correct measurement results obtained from the processed article.

[0098] Preferably, most or even only the laboratory working modules have processing equipment, while the laboratory base modules do not. The laboratory base modules may have at least one storage device, as mentioned above, for providing laboratory items for use in the laboratory working modules. The laboratory base modules may additionally have preparation equipment for preparing laboratory items for use in the laboratory working modules. One feasible preparation equipment is a cleaning device for cleaning laboratory items, particularly containers, especially microtiter plates, in preparation for their further use.

[0099] Preferably, the substrate of the laboratory working module, especially its supporting component, has a uniform base plane dimension in each of the two mutually orthogonal reference plane spatial directions. The uniform dimension refers to a dimension in which the larger dimension along the same spatial direction differs by no more than 7.5%, preferably no more than 5%. Preferably, the substrate of the laboratory working module, especially its supporting component, has the same dimension in each of the individual reference plane spatial directions.

[0100] In the laboratory setup and ready-to-operate state, the reference plane spatial direction is horizontal.

[0101] 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 allow for the 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.

[0102] The working module frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory working module, and particularly preferably three laboratory working modules, which are arranged sequentially along the supply transport route at or within the module frame.

[0103] The laboratory layout is not necessarily limited to a single layer of modules. The laboratory layout may additionally include at least one basic laboratory module, with laboratory working modules positioned above one of the at least one basic laboratory module to form a module rack. This means that preferably all basic laboratory modules are located in one layer, the basic module layer, and all laboratory working modules are located in another second layer, the working module layer. As already described, the layer of basic laboratory modules is preferably located below the layer of working laboratory modules.

[0104] Preferably, at least a plurality of laboratory working modules, and particularly preferably all laboratory working modules, are supported by a laboratory base module. Preferably, the laboratory base module has the same base surface as the laboratory working modules or has a base surface that is an integer multiple thereof, such that one laboratory base module can support exactly one or more laboratory working modules.

[0105] The arrangement of laboratory work modules in a single layer ensures that all laboratory work modules can be formed by means of transport components, preferably substantially planar, consisting of supply transport equipment and delivery transport equipment, preferably in numbers corresponding to the number of laboratory work modules, wherein not only the supply transport segments but also all delivery transport segments preferably extend horizontally. Preferably, the multiple delivery transport segments of the laboratory arrangement, and particularly preferably all delivery transport segments, are parallel to each other.

[0106] The laboratory base modules are accessible to laboratory personnel, for example, to house laboratory items intended for use with processing equipment in the laboratory work modules. To ensure this accessibility, preferably only the work module layer has the transport components described above, while the base module layer does not. Individual base modules may have transport devices that can move in the depth and / or height direction of the main body of the laboratory arrangement, for example, to load and unload laboratory items, particularly microtiter plates, for cleaning equipment. Preferably, the base modules do not have transport devices whose transport routes extend in a sequence in which the laboratory base modules are arranged following one another so as not to impede the preferred extractability of individual laboratory base modules from the main body of the laboratory arrangement.

[0107] The laboratory base module may 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, may use at least one common frame member, which is part of both the work module frame and the base module frame.

[0108] 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.

[0109] For ease of manufacture and installation, the working module frame and the base module frame are preferably constructed to have at least the same base surface dimensions, preferably also to have the same height dimensions, and particularly preferably even identical.

[0110] 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.

[0111] To enable the placement of laboratory items from the laboratory base module into the laboratory work module above it, at least one module of the module rack preferably has a laboratory item lift, by means of which at least one laboratory item or sub-selection can be moved between the upper laboratory work module and the lower laboratory base module. The laboratory item lift may include, or may be, the aforementioned preparation station of the laboratory module, from which delivery transport equipment retrieves the provided laboratory item or provided sub-selection and returns it to the preparation station when necessary.

[0112] The laboratory working module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory layout as a whole may 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 may, for example, control the transport of laboratory items and the operation of at least one processing device. The control device may have at least one integrated circuit and at least one data memory. An operating program for execution via the at least one integrated circuit may be executablely stored in the data memory. The data memory may 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 path, or by temperature sensors, or by proximity sensors for detecting the presence of components at predetermined locations.

[0113] 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

[0114] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0115] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a laboratory layout having a laboratory module according to the invention is shown.

[0116] Figure 2 Showing without packaging Figure 1 A schematic 3D view of the laboratory layout.

[0117] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of the basic and working module framework of the laboratory layout.

[0118] Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the first transport equipment in the laboratory layout.

[0119] Figure 5 Show Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the laboratory layout according to the laboratory working module of the present invention.

[0120] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of the second receiving device of the second transport equipment of the laboratory working module.

[0121] Figure 7 Show Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of the second transport device of the laboratory work module.

[0122] Figure 8 Show Figure 1 A schematic 3D view of the basic modules of the laboratory layout.

[0123] Figure 9 Show Figure 8 A schematic perspective view of the empty stacked storage units of the laboratory's basic module.

[0124] Figure 10 Show Figure 8 A schematic perspective view of the stacked storage units already loaded into the laboratory's basic module.

[0125] Figure 11 A schematic perspective view of the basic module level of the laboratory layout according to the present invention, including the basic modules pulled out from the basic and working module framework, is shown.

[0126] Figure 12 This shows the process before transferring laboratory items from the first transport device to the second transport device. Figure 1 A schematic 3D view of the transfer area of ​​the laboratory layout.

[0127] 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 3D view of the transfer area of ​​the laboratory layout.

[0128] Figure 14 Showing has Figure 1A schematic perspective view of the laboratory working module of the pipetting equipment according to the present invention, and...

[0129] Figure 15 Show Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the working area of ​​the pipetting device according to the laboratory working module of the present invention.

[0130] The attached diagram is not to scale, but it qualitatively and correctly depicts the size relationships. Detailed Implementation

[0131] The attached diagram is not to scale, but it qualitatively and correctly depicts the size relationships.

[0132] exist Figure 1 In 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.

[0133] 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. Figure 1 The cover, not shown, is closed, or the through portion can be open.

[0134] 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.

[0135] 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.

[0136] 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.

[0137] 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 opposite 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.

[0138] Figure 2 The 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.

[0139] 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.

[0140] 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.

[0141] 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.

[0142] 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 4The 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 extends parallel to the x-direction and passes through all three laboratory work modules 56a, 56b and 56c, so that the first transport device 68 can transport laboratory items to each individual laboratory work module 56a, 56b and 56c of the work module layer 40.

[0143] 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.

[0144] The middle and left laboratory work modules 56b and 56c each have a second transport device 76, which is described in further detail below.

[0145] exist Figure 4 The first transport device 68 is shown separately.

[0146] The first transport equipment carrier 78 can be 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.

[0147] 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.

[0148] The transport base 82 is movable on the guide rail 80 by means of rolling element support.

[0149] Furthermore, the first transport base 82 is clamped to the belt 84 of the belt-driven first transport drive 86 of the first transport device 68. The motor 88 of the first transport drive 86 drives the belt 84 in one of two opposite circumferential directions according to the driving direction of the motor 88, thereby moving the first transport base 82 along the first transport section 70, and by means of it moving the first receiving device 72, which is rigidly connected to the first transport base 82, along the first transport section 70.

[0150] 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.

[0151] Support surfaces 75a, 75b, and 75c are respectively formed at the inward-facing sections of the base 72a, leg 72b, and leg end 72c (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 in contact with the first support surface assembly.

[0152] 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 items 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 items placed on the first support surface assembly 77 in the plane of the support surface assembly 77.

[0153] 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.

[0154] Figure 5 The laboratory work module 56b has a base plate 90, which can be connected to supports 50 and 52 on the upper side of the base and work module frame 46, thereby being fixed to the frame. The base plate 90 may 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.

[0155] 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.

[0156] 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.

[0157] 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 can work collaboratively with a higher-level master control device of the laboratory layout 10 as a slave control device.

[0158] 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 delivers laboratory items to the pipetting device 64 to perform a pipetting process. The second transport device 96 can move 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 ).

[0159] 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 path 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.

[0160] The second receiving device 102 can be located in the z-direction from Figure 5 The position shown in the diagram begins to rise and then descend again to implement 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 that can move along the second transport section 98 together with the second transport base 106, and a belt 122 of a 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.

[0161] 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, can vertically transport laboratory items from the base module layer 38 to the working module layer 40.

[0162] 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.

[0163] 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.

[0164] 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.

[0165] 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 may be rectangular in shape and may have rounded corners as shown in the preferred embodiment.

[0166] 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, such that these two protrusions 136 can abut against a common component edge of a laboratory article, such as a microtiter plate, having a base surface that is rectangular in this case.

[0167] The solid receiving plate 135 of the first delivery receiving device 104a may have functional devices 138, such as a heating device, a device for generating a magnetic field, or the receiving plate may be configured as electrodes for generating an electric field. In this manner, 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).

[0168] 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.

[0169] 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.

[0170] The receiving frame of the second delivery receiving device 104b also has a base 144a, with parallel legs 144b projecting in the same direction at its longitudinal end regions. 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, can in principle also move 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 practice, 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 ).

[0171] 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.

[0172] 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.

[0173] 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 can be fastened to the longitudinal beams 52 of the foundation and working module frame 46, and, if desired, can also be fastened at its longitudinal end to the transverse beams 50 of the foundation and working module frame 46 or to the base plate 90 of the laboratory working module 56b. However, in Figure 6 The second transport drive 114 is not shown.

[0174] 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.

[0175] 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.

[0176] 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.

[0177] 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.

[0178] 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 can move parallel to the z-direction via corresponding transport drives, 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.

[0179] 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.

[0180] 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.

[0181] 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.

[0182] 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.

[0183] 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 may 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.

[0184] 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.

[0185] The identically configured receiving structure 171 has a receiving frame that 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 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, just as the first receiving device 72. The descriptions in this specification regarding the interaction between one of the first delivery receiving devices 104a and the first receiving device 72, with necessary modifications, also apply 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.

[0186] 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.

[0187] For better overview, not all housing structures 171 are provided with other reference numerals in detail.

[0188] 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.

[0189] 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.

[0190] 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 8It moves from its suspended position to the laboratory work module 56 located above it.

[0191] 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.

[0192] exist Figure 12 In 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.

[0193] 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 by 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.

[0194] 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.

[0195] Figure 13The 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.

[0196] 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.

[0197] 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.

[0198] 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.

[0199] 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.

[0200] 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.

[0201] The receiving assembly 104 or the first delivery receiving device 104a can be lowered along the transfer relative motion trajectory TRB with respect 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 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.

[0202] like Figure 14 and Figure 15 As 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.

[0203] 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.

[0204] 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, in which the second sub-selection 158 can be transferred from the output preparation receiving device 172 to the receiving second delivery receiving device 104b. Stacked storage 156, together with laboratory item elevator 128, forms preparation station 182, in which the desired second sub-selection 158 in stacked storage 156 can be provided for transfer from stacked storage 156 to receiving assembly 104.

[0205] Due to the uniformity of the configuration schemes of the first receiving device 72 and the preparation receiving device 172, and due to the uniformity of the configuration schemes of the placement surfaces of the sub-selections 157 and 158, the first transport device 68 can, in principle, also transport the second sub-selection 158 in a transferable manner, and the stacked storage device 156 can transport the first sub-selection 157 in a transferable manner.

[0206] 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.

[0207] 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.

[0208] 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.

[0209] Therefore, the second sub-selection 158 is first moved into the working area 186 of the pipetting device 64, so that the pipetting device 64 can 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, so that the pipetting device 64 can draw metered liquid from the source container 158a.

[0210] Subsequently, the microtiter plate 158c is moved below the disposable pipette tip 184 housed in the pipetting channel 92, allowing the pipetting device 64 to dispense the metered liquid drawn from the disposable pipette plate 184 into the individual wells 188 of the microtiter plate 158c. The wells 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 wells, each with eight wells 188.

[0211] 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 through 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.

[0212] 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.

[0213] 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 (56), the laboratory module comprising: a) A pipetting device for drawing and dispensing liquids (64). b) A set of different laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c), said set comprising: a source container (158a), a target container (158c), and a pipette tip assembly (158b) having at least one pipette tip (184), as different laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c). c) A delivery transport device (96) capable of moving along a delivery transport route (98) for transporting laboratory items (158a, 158b, 158c) to at least the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64). The delivery transport device (96) is configured to transport a first sub-selection (157) from a transfer station (178) of the laboratory module (56) to the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64), the first sub-selection comprising one or two different laboratory items (158c) from the source container (158a), the target container (158c), and the pipetting tip assembly (158b), and the delivery transport device is also configured to transport a second sub-selection (158) from a preparation station (182) different from the transfer station (178) to the working area (186) of the pipetting device (64), the second sub-selection comprising laboratory items (158a, 158b) from the source container (158a), the target container (158c), and the pipetting tip assembly (158b) that are not included in the first sub-selection (157).

2. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 1. Its features are, The transfer station (178) and the preparation station (182) are spaced apart from each other along the delivery transport route (98).

3. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 1 or 2. Its features are, The transfer station (178) includes a supply transport device (68) configured to transport a sub-selection (157) from the first sub-selection and the second sub-selection (157, 158) to a transfer area (178), in which the supply transport device (68) and the delivery transport device (96) are configured to transfer the transported sub-selection (157) at least from the supply transport device (68) to the delivery transport device (96).

4. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The preparation station (182) includes a transport device (128) configured to transport a sub-selection (158) from the first sub-selection and the second sub-selection (157, 158) to a preparation area (180), in which the transport device (128) and the delivery transport device (96) are configured to transfer the transported sub-selection (158) at least from the transport device (128) to the delivery transport device (96).

5. The laboratory module (56) according to claims 3 and 4. Its features are, The supply transport device (68) is configured to transport one of the sub-selections (157) from the first sub-selection and the second sub-selection (157, 158) to the transfer area (178), and the transport device (128) is configured to transport the other corresponding sub-selection (158) from the first sub-selection and the second sub-selection (157, 158) to the preparation area (180).

6. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of claims 3 to 5. Its features are, The delivery transport equipment (96) has a delivery receiving assembly (104) for receiving sub-selections (157, 158) for transport via the delivery transport equipment (96), wherein (1) As a device cooperating with the delivery transport device (96), the supply transport device (68) has a supply receiving device (72) for receiving the sub-selection (157) for transporting the sub-selection (157) by means of the supply transport device (68), wherein the supply receiving device (72) is a receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) to transfer the sub-selection (157) from the supply receiving device (72) to the delivery receiving assembly (104), and / or (2) As an apparatus cooperating with the delivery transport equipment (96), the transport equipment (128) has a preparation receiving device (172) for receiving the sub-selection (158) for transport by the transport equipment (128), wherein the preparation receiving device (172) is a receiving device cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) to transfer the sub-selection (158) from the preparation receiving device (172) to the delivery receiving assembly (104). At least one receiving component (72, 104, 172) arising from the delivery receiving assembly (104) and the receiving device (72, 172) cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) can be driven to perform a transfer movement, wherein the delivery receiving assembly (104) and the receiving device (72, 172) cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) are physically designed differently such that the delivery receiving assembly (104) and the receiving device (72, 172) cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) are designed differently. The receiving devices (72, 172) are capable of interleaving with each other along a transfer relative motion trajectory (TRB) caused by the transfer motion of the at least one receiving member (72, 104, 172), wherein the transfer motion disengages the receiving engagement of the subselection (157, 158) with the receiving member (72, 104, 172) that outputs the subselection (157, 157), and establishes a receiving engagement with the receiving member (72, 104, 172) that receives the subselection (157, 158).

7. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 6. Its features are, One of the receiving components (72, 104, 172) from the delivery receiving assembly (104) and the receiving device (72, 172) cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) has a receiving frame as an outer receiving component, the receiving frame extending around a free inner region (73, 173) of the outer receiving component, wherein the other corresponding receiving component (72, 104, 172) from the delivery receiving assembly (104) and the receiving device (72, 172) cooperating with the delivery receiving assembly (104) has a receiving carrier as an inner receiving component, such that the relative movement of the inner receiving component along the transfer relative motion trajectory (TRB) through the outer receiving component is the relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region (73, 173) of the receiving frame.

8. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 6 or 7. Its features are, The delivery receiving assembly (104) has two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b), which are respectively configured to receive sub-selections (157, 158) for transport by the delivery transport equipment (96), and the delivery receiving devices are capable of moving together along the delivery transport route (98).

9. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 8. Its features are, The first delivery receiving device (104a) of the two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b) is configured to transfer a sub-selection (157) from the supply receiving device (72) to the first delivery receiving device (104a), and the second delivery receiving device (104b) of the two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b) is configured to transfer a corresponding other sub-selection (158) from the preparation receiving device (172) to the second delivery receiving device (104b).

10. The laboratory module (56) according to claim 8 or 9. Its features are, The first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are respectively configured as external receiving devices and each has a receiving frame, the receiving frame extending around the free internal region of the external receiving device, or the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are respectively configured as internal receiving devices and have receiving carriers, such that the relative movement of the internal receiving device along the transfer relative motion trajectory (TRB) through the external receiving device is the relative movement of the receiving carrier through the internal region (73, 173) of the receiving frame, wherein if the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are respectively configured as external receiving devices, the preparation receiving device (172) and the supply receiving device (72) are respectively configured as internal receiving devices, and wherein if the first delivery receiving device and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are respectively configured as internal receiving devices, the preparation receiving device (172) and the supply receiving device (72) are respectively configured as external receiving devices.

11. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, subject to the reference to claim 7. Its features are, The receiving support has a C-shaped or O-shaped shape, and / or the receiving support has a solid plate (135).

12. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of claims 7 to 11. Its features are, At least one containment device (104a) has thermal and / or electrical and / or magnetic functional devices (138) that act on the sub-selection (157, 158) contained by the containment device or in conjunction with the pipetting device (64) of the laboratory module (56).

13. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The pipetting device (64) has at least one pipetting channel (92) extending along the channel axis (K), which can only move along the channel axis (K).

14. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The first sub-selection (157) includes the target container (158c), and the second sub-selection (158) includes the source container (158a) and the pipette tip assembly (158b).

15. The laboratory module (56) according to any one of the preceding claims, subject to claim 12. Its features are, The pipette tip assembly (158b) includes at least one conductive pipette tip (184), and the delivery receiving device (104a) that carries the target container (158c) during the pipetting process has electrodes as functional devices (138) that work together with the conductive pipette tip (184) to form an electric field.

Images