Laboratory module comprising transport devices which transfer a transported object between one another using a scraping action

Abstract

The invention relates to a laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) comprising a transport assembly (99). The transport assembly (99) has a first and a second transport device (68, 96), wherein the first transport device (68) has a first receiving device (72), and the second transport device (96) has a second receiving device (102). The first receiving device (72) can be moved along a transport path (70), and the second receiving device (102) can be moved along a second transport path (98) which differs from the first transport path (70). The transport assembly (99) has a transfer region (176) in which the transport assembly (99) is designed to transfer a laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) between the first and second receiving device (72, 102). At least one of the first and second receiving devices (72, 102) can be driven so as to carry out a transfer movement at least in the transfer region (176), and the first and second receiving device (72, 102) can be moved past each other along a relative movement transfer path (TRB) in the transfer region (176). The transfer movement cancels a receiving engagement between the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) and the receiving device which is dispensing the laboratory object and produces a receiving engagement between the laboratory object and the receiving device which is receiving the laboratory object.

Description

[0001] Laboratory module with transport devices that transfer a transport object by stripping it off

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a laboratory module. The laboratory module comprises a transport arrangement for transporting a laboratory object within the laboratory module. The transport arrangement has a first and a second transport device. The first transport device has a first receiving device for receiving the laboratory object for transport of the laboratory object by the first transport device. The second transport device has a second receiving device, different from the first receiving device, for receiving the laboratory object for transport of the laboratory object by the second transport device. The first receiving device is movable along a first transport path. The second receiving device is movable along a second transport path, different from the first transport path.

[0004] The transport arrangement has a transfer area in which the transport arrangement is designed to transfer a transported laboratory object from a discharging receiving device consisting of the first and second receiving devices to the respective other receiving device consisting of the first and second receiving devices. The laboratory object is then transported from the discharging receiving device to the transfer area and, after the transfer, is picked up at the receiving receiving device, ready for transport.

[0005] The transport arrangement is fundamentally suitable for transporting any transport object, as long as it can be moved by the transport arrangement due to its dimensions and weight. Since the subject of the application is a laboratory module, the object transported by the transport arrangement is hereinafter referred to as a "laboratory object." This is preferably an object suitable for use in an analytical and / or productive processing process typical for laboratories. Analytical processing processes include preparatory and / or dissecting and / or measuring or data-capturing processing processes. Productive processing processes include constructive and / or mixing and / or creating processing processes, particularly on an experimental scale. A preferred processing process is a pipetting process for one or more liquids.A pipetting operation can be part of an analytical processing operation or part of a productive processing operation, or both.

[0006] Of particular interest for the present invention is a laboratory module which serves to carry out analytical and / or productive biological and / or chemical, in particular biochemical, and / or pharmaceutical processing operations.

[0007] Such a laboratory module preferably serves as a building block for forming a laboratory arrangement, which can be easily and quickly assembled from a plurality of laboratory modules according to the desired or required functions.

[0008] US 6739448 B1 discloses a transport device for transporting sample carriers between different processing stations in an at least partially automated laboratory system. Examples of sample carriers mentioned in US 6739448 B1 include microtiter plates and boxes with pipette tips. The laboratory system has several processing stations arranged at different positions, each with a station support surface to which the known transport device can deliver a transported sample carrier for processing by the processing station. The known transport device can be moved along a transport path between the processing stations.

[0009] US 6739448 B1 highlights as a special feature of the transport device described therein that it always engages a sample carrier only from its base. For transport by the transport device along the transport path, the sample carrier rests on a transport surface of the known transport device and, after reaching a target processing station, is transferred to the station carrier surface of this target processing station. The transport surface has a C-shaped surface extension with a free or recessed inner area surrounded by the C-shaped transport surface. The station carrier surface is limited in its surface extension, essentially complementary to the transport surface, to the free inner area of ​​the complementary C-shaped transport surface.The station support surface can only be raised and lowered along a path orthogonal to the parallel extension planes of the transport surface and the station support surface. The station support surface does not have any other degree of freedom of movement. By a lifting movement of the station support surface through the recessed inner area of ​​the complementary C-shaped transport surface past the transport surface, the sample carrier initially resting on the transport surface can be lifted from the transport surface by means of the station support surface and thus transferred. By a lowering movement of the station support surface past the C-shaped transport surface, the sample carrier initially resting on the station support surface can be placed on the transport surface and thus transferred to it.If one considers the described transfer processes between the transport surface and the station support surface in a respective coordinate system that moves with the initially unloaded surface that receives the sample carrier from the transport surface and the station support surface, the sample carrier is stripped off the originally supporting surface at the receiving surface during each transfer.

[0010] The C-shaped transport surface can be arranged on a frame of the transport device so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation orthogonal to its transport surface plane.

[0011] Projections on the C-shaped transport surface delimit a surface area intended for supporting the sample carrier on the transport surface and prevent a sample carrier held on the transport surface from shifting parallel to the transport surface. EP 0 990 906 A1 discloses an automatic laboratory analysis system with a transport device operating therein. The transport device known from EP 0 990 906 A1 is housed in a separate device housing and serves to transport components from one device of the laboratory analysis system to another device of the laboratory analysis system, wherein each of the devices is housed in its own device housing. The device housing is connected to one of the device housings and is aligned relative to the other device housing.

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

[0013] The known transport device comprises a receiving plate on which a component carrier can be picked up simply by placing it on the receiving plate. The receiving plate is provided with a magnetic foil to hold the component carrier frictionally to the receiving plate with a friction force increased by magnetic force beyond its weight. The receiving plate is movable in three mutually orthogonal spatial directions and can thus approach stationary loading mouths of the devices that are open on one side towards the transport device. The loading mouths are each formed by a C-shaped frame, which has an insertion aid in the area of ​​its mouth opening with a clear width that decreases towards the loading mouth.The component carriers are designed with a protruding shoulder at their upper end when used as intended, so that a component carrier threaded into the jaw opening with its protruding shoulder can be held in place by gravity in a form-fitting manner on the frame of the loading jaw.

[0014] Thanks to the insertion aid at the opening of the stationary loading jaw, the component carrier, which is only standing on the receiving plate, can be moved in the plane of the receiving plate when threading it into the stationary loading jaw. The magnetic force created by the magnetic foil increases the friction between the component carrier and the receiving plate, but does not prevent relative movement between the component carrier and the receiving plate. This allows the component carrier to be moved into the transfer position on the respective device, which is predetermined by the shape of the loading jaw, even if it is inaccurately positioned relative to the loading jaw on the receiving plate.

[0015] By lowering the mounting plate after threading the component carrier into a loading jaw, the component carrier can be released from the mounting plate by overcoming the magnetic force initially acting between the component carrier and the mounting plate. The component carrier then remains on the stationary loading jaw, where the device of the laboratory analysis system assigned to the loading jaw can access the components in the component carrier.

[0016] When a component carrier is picked up from a loading mouth, the receiving plate moves from below against the base of the component carrier that is suspended in the frame of the loading mouth, lifts the component carrier so that its shoulder no longer touches the frame of the loading mouth, and moves the component carrier out of the loading mouth.

[0017] EP 3 450 985 A1 discloses a device for processing microtiter plates. The device draws microtiter plates horizontally into its body through a drawer. The drawer can be extended and retracted horizontally through a slot in the front of the device, orthogonal to the front of the device. The known device can be used, for example, as a patch clamp system for electrophysiology, as an absorption microplate reader, as a fluorescence microplate reader, as a luminescence microplate reader, as a cell imaging system, as a device for performing electroporation for transfection, as a device for level measurement in microtiter plates, and as a detection device ("reader") for microarrays in microtiter plates.

[0018] In front of the drawer there is a lift which can only move vertically parallel to the front of the device. The lift is a microtiter plate storage device in which the microtiter plates to be processed by the device are stored vertically one above the other. The drawer has a C-shaped frame through whose free interior a carrier plate of the lift can be moved vertically. The C-shaped frame is dimensioned such that a microtiter plate can be placed on it. The carrier plate of the lift is smaller than the base area of ​​a microtiter plate, so that a carrier plate loaded with a microtiter plate can move vertically downwards through the free interior of the C-shaped frame of the drawer and in doing so can scrape the microtiter plate it is carrying off the drawer.

[0019] In reverse motion, the carrier plate can lift a microtiter plate that is ready for transfer from the extended tray by moving vertically through the free interior space of the tray's C-shaped frame. The then empty tray can be retracted back into the device body, whereupon the lift can move the received microtiter plate vertically to a desired location.

[0020] The drawer can be movable within the device body in a further horizontal direction orthogonal to its horizontal extension and retraction movement as well as to the vertical direction of movement of the lift.

[0021] The device for processing microtiter plates known from EP 3 450 985 A1 can be used in conjunction with a pipetting device, wherein a gripping device is then provided to move a microtiter plate from the lift into the working area of ​​the pipetting device.

[0022] EP 0 856 736 A2 discloses an automatic analysis device with one or more pipetting devices for performing clinical analyses of sample fluids. The automatic analysis device comprises a conveyor belt for conveying sample carriers to analysis stations. At each analysis station, a loading and unloading device is provided, which moves a sample carrier from the conveyor belt to the analysis station or vice versa. The analysis device also comprises sample carrier storage units as transport buffers, in which sample carriers can be temporarily stored that have already been selected for reanalysis despite having been analyzed. The known loading and unloading devices can comprise sliders that move a sample carrier from the conveyor belt to the analysis station or vice versa.A loading and unloading device is also provided on the sample carrier storage to move sample carriers from the conveyor belt into the sample carrier storage or from the sample carrier storage onto the conveyor belt.

[0023] While sample carriers are moved horizontally along the conveyor belt, the sample carriers in the sample carrier storage are moved vertically to transfer a desired stored sample carrier from the sample carrier storage to the conveyor belt. The sample carriers are identified by barcode. At least one station of the analysis device is a barcode reader.

[0024] A conveyor system for transporting and storing microtiter plates is known from US Pat. No. 7,954,624 B2 and EP 2 022 736 A1. The conveyor system is used to transport microtiter plates into and out of the working area of ​​a dispensing device for dispensing liquids. The dispensing device has a dispensing head that is movable in three pairs of orthogonal spatial directions, which can approach microtiter plates arranged in a working plane and dispense liquid into them.

[0025] The system comprises grid-like storage stations, each of which can accommodate a microtiter plate. Above the storage stations is an opening device that can be moved in three pairs of orthogonal spatial directions to approach a storage station, grasp a cover of a microtiter plate arranged thereon, and lift it off the microtiter plate.

[0026] A storage station is equipped with a material-free interior area through which a transport device can move vertically to lift or place a microtiter plate arranged on the storage station. The storage station provides a support surface for depositing microtiter plates as a support surface divided into separate sub-support surfaces only in the corner areas of a microtiter plate, allowing the transport device to move between support surfaces arranged one behind the other in a row direction.

[0027] US 7954624 B2 and EP 2 022 736 A1 also disclose a column storage system comprising a plurality of storage columns arranged on a turntable, which are rotatable about a central lifting device. Microtiter plates are stacked vertically one above the other in a storage column and can be raised and lowered by the central lifting device. A pick-up device can take over the topmost microtiter plate of a storage column when the microtiter plate is at a predetermined transfer height. The storage column and pick-up device form a last-in, first-out storage system with respect to the respective storage column.

[0028] By rotating the turntable, a specific storage column from the plurality of storage columns arranged consecutively around the turntable's rotation axis can be brought into cooperative engagement with the lifting device as the active storage column. The lifting device can then gradually raise the microtiter plates arranged one above the other in the active storage column so that the topmost microtiter plate is at the transfer height level and can be picked up by the pick-up device.

[0029] It is an object of the present invention to provide a laboratory module of the type mentioned at the outset which enables the transport of a laboratory object within the laboratory module with the simplest and thus most cost-effective structural design possible with the greatest possible degree of freedom of movement and high movement accuracy.

[0030] This object is achieved by a laboratory module having all the features of claim 1. Therefore, in a laboratory module as initially described, at least one receiving device comprising a first and a second receiving device can be driven to perform a transfer movement, at least in the transfer area. The relative transfer mobility brought about by the transfer movement of the at least one receiving device is configured according to the invention such that, in the transfer area, the relative transfer movement path between the first and second receiving devices extends transversely to both the course of the first and the second transport path in the transfer area.

[0031] According to the invention, the first and second receiving devices are physically different in such a way that the first and second receiving devices are movable past each other in the transfer area along the transfer relative movement path, wherein the transfer movement cancels a receiving engagement of the laboratory object with the delivering transport device and establishes it with the receiving transport device.

[0032] This configuration enables the first and second receiving devices to be moved from the transfer area along their respective assigned transport paths over virtually any distance and in different directions. The relative transfer mobility of the first and second receiving devices past each other in the transfer area for transferring the laboratory object from one receiving device to the other ensures that the laboratory object can be transferred between the two receiving devices with high positioning accuracy without the involvement of a gripper device, which is generally not only expensive to procure but also complex to commission. The transfer takes place quickly in the transfer area, i.e., in a very short time. A gripper device within the meaning of the present application has a movable gripper.The gripper can be a suction gripper or a magnetic gripper or a jaw gripper with at least one movable gripper jaw.

[0033] A transfer movement of one of the receiving devices can advantageously have a short movement path if the transfer relative movement path is orthogonal to the course of the first and / or the second transport path in the transfer area. In the present case, the transfer of the laboratory object from one receiving device to the other receiving device by the transfer movement, when viewed in a coordinate system moving along with the releasing receiving device, always comprises a lifting movement of the laboratory object away from the releasing receiving device. Therefore, the transfer movement is preferably orthogonal to the transport path of the releasing receiving device, so that the transfer movement is a lifting movement of the laboratory object away from the releasing receiving device, particularly preferably without a movement component that does not contribute to changing the lifting height.Since both receiving devices can be transferring receiving devices throughout their operating life, the transfer movement or the transfer relative movement path caused by the transfer movement is preferably orthogonal to both the first and second transport paths, at least in the transfer area. The transfer movement comprises a translational movement. Preferably, the transfer movement is only a translational movement.

[0034] In principle, the present invention is intended to encompass the fact that the first and second transport routes in the transfer area can be collinear continuations of one another, so that, for example, a first transport route limited by an obstacle or by technical boundary conditions can be continued in the same direction by the second transport route. In order to be able to travel to specific locations in an area or in a room, however, a change in direction of the transport path in the transfer area is preferred. According to a preferred development, the course of the first transport route and the course of the second transport route are therefore oriented transversely to one another, at least in the transfer area. Existing transport volume can be used efficiently if the course of the first transport route and the course of the second transport route are oriented orthogonally to one another, at least in the transfer area.Any point in a surface can be reached by having the first and second transport paths extend from the transfer area along mutually linearly independent paths. The first and / or second transport paths can extend along a three-dimensional spatial path. The path can be curved, possibly multiple times. If the path has multiple curved sections, the curved sections can have different radii of curvature and / or different directions of curvature.

[0035] The paths of the first and second transport paths are preferably implemented by a first and a second linear motion guide device, such as a guide rail and / or a guide rod and / or a guide groove. The first and second linear motion guide devices ensure movement guidance of the first and second receiving devices, respectively, in two opposite directions of movement along the respective transport path.

[0036] For simple but effective transport of a laboratory object in the laboratory module, at least one of the first and second transport paths preferably runs in a straight line. Particularly preferably, both transport paths run in a straight line. This facilitates the implementation of a transport drive and a motion guidance device on the first and / or second transport device. For each of the first and second transport devices, a transport drive can be selected depending on the length of the transport path. The transport drive can comprise a spindle drive. The transport drive can have a belt drive. Other types of transport drives, including linear drives, are of course not excluded.

[0037] In principle, the transfer movement, which is a relative movement of the first and second receiving devices relative to each other to ensure the transfer of the laboratory object from the donating to the receiving device, can be a simultaneous movement of both receiving devices. The two simultaneous movements of the first and second receiving devices are then preferably directed in opposite directions. The transfer movement path of each receiving device can then be kept particularly short, since the total transfer relative movement path effective between the two receiving devices is the sum of the individual transfer movement paths of the first and second receiving devices.

[0038] However, for a particularly simple design of the transport arrangement, it is sufficient for only one of the first and second receiving devices to be drivable for the transfer movement, at least in the transfer area. In this case, only one receiving device needs to have a transfer movement drive and, if applicable, a transfer movement guide device, while the other receiving device can be movable exclusively along its assigned transport path. The transfer movement path of a single receiving device drivable for the transfer movement is then, if necessary, greater than if both receiving devices could be driven for the transfer movement. However, the receiving devices are preferably flat structures, i.e. structures which have a considerably larger dimension along each of two mutually orthogonal spatial directions than along a third spatial direction orthogonal to each of the two spatial directions.This preferred planar structure of the receiving device enables the use of a short transfer movement path even if only the first or second receiving device can be driven for a transfer movement. The transfer movement path preferably runs transversely, particularly preferably orthogonally, to the planar extension of the first and second receiving devices.

[0039] In order to ensure a stripping transfer of a transported laboratory object between the first and the second receiving device according to the invention without the involvement of an additional transfer device, such as a gripper, slider and the like, a receiving engagement of the laboratory object with both the first and the second transport device each comprises a support engagement.

[0040] More precisely, the support engagement is preferably achieved by placing or setting down the laboratory object on the receiving device of the respective transport device. Likewise, the support engagement is preferably released by lifting the laboratory object from the receiving device of the respective transport device. However, this does not necessarily mean that the laboratory object is transported loosely and resting only on a receiving device with frictional engagement. While this is fundamentally possible, the frictional engagement between the laboratory object and the respective receiving device limits the maximum possible transport acceleration and deceleration of the receiving device.A transport arrangement with higher dynamics can be obtained if the first or the second receiving device, preferably the first and the second receiving device, has or have at least one form-locking element, preferably a plurality of form-locking elements, such as projections and / or recesses, which limit a movement of a laboratory object held on the receiving device as intended for transport parallel to a contact surface of its support engagement in at least one direction, preferably in mutually opposite directions, particularly preferably in each direction along two mutually orthogonal displacement axes parallel to the contact surface.The laboratory object can then be accelerated from a standstill with high acceleration parallel to the contact surface of its support engagement with the supporting fixture and decelerated from a moving position with equally high deceleration, without fear of displacement of the laboratory object relative to the supporting fixture. The contact surface of the support engagement is the area where the laboratory object touches the fixture when in contact with a fixture.

[0041] The first receiving device and the second receiving device are preferably designed differently with regard to shape and / or size.

[0042] The first receiving device, which can be designed as a flat frame or as a flat plate, can be connected to a first transport base movable along the first transport path to facilitate movement guidance along the first transport path and to facilitate the introduction of accelerating and decelerating forces. To achieve the highest possible positioning accuracy, the first transport base preferably has no further translational degree of freedom of movement in addition to the mobility along the first transport path. It preferably also has no rotational degree of freedom of movement. The first receiving device also preferably has no rotational degree of freedom of movement. The first transport base is preferably guided for movement by the first movement guidance device, particularly preferably directly by the first movement guidance device.Additionally or alternatively, the same applies mutatis mutandis to the second receiving device. It can be connected to a second transport base movable along the second transport path, wherein the second transport base preferably has no further translational degree of freedom in addition to the mobility along the second transport path. The second transport base is preferably guided for movement by the second motion guide device, particularly preferably directly by the second motion guide device.

[0043] The receiving device which cannot be driven for transfer movement is preferably rigidly connected to its transport base.

[0044] The receiving device, which is preferably the second receiving device, which can be driven for the transfer movement, is preferably connected to a transfer base, particularly preferably rigidly connected, wherein the transfer base itself is in turn guided on the transport base of the receiving device so that it can move relative to the latter. The transport base of the receiving device can then have a transfer movement drive and, if appropriate, a transfer movement guide device on which the transfer base is drivably guided. The transport movement of the transport base is then advantageously independent of a transfer movement of the associated receiving device.

[0045] A transport base and / or the transfer base can comprise at least one device consisting of a spindle nut, a slotted nut, a roller-guided guide carriage, or a sliding-surface-guided guide carriage, or can be such a device, to name just a few examples. A possible transfer movement drive can comprise a spindle drive, a piston-cylinder arrangement, a belt drive, and the like.

[0046] In order to be able to establish the above-described preferred support engagement between the laboratory object and the respective receiving device during transport of the laboratory object, it is sufficient for the first receiving device to have a first support surface arrangement for receiving the laboratory object by placing it on the first support surface arrangement, and for the second receiving device to have a second support surface arrangement for receiving the laboratory object by placing it on the second support surface arrangement. Clamping devices or other fixing devices for securing the laboratory object to a delivery receiving device against lifting are not necessary and are therefore preferably not present.To secure the position of the laboratory object on the respective receiving device, the support surface arrangement can be delimited by the above-mentioned at least one form-fitting element, such as one or more projections, which protrudes in a direction away from the support surface arrangement. This preferably applies to both the first and the second support surface arrangement.

[0047] A transported laboratory object rests on the first and second receiving device during its transport by the first and second transport device and can always be lifted off the respective receiving device.

[0048] One or both support surface arrangements from the first and / or second support surface arrangement can be formed by a plurality of separate support surfaces arranged at a distance from one another. The support surfaces are rigidly connected to one another by at least one component or at least one component section of the respective receiving device, but do not have to form a continuous support surface. One or both support surface arrangements from the first and / or second support surface arrangement can be formed by a single continuous support surface. In principle, the first and / or second support surface arrangement can be designed as a three-dimensional surface arrangement.For increased practicality, the laboratory object will generally have a storage area with a flat storage surface designed for placement on a surface. This is because the laboratory object should typically be able to be placed on numerous different objects, including laboratory tables, shelves, compartments, and the like, with the objects themselves being designed to accommodate a wide variety of objects. Therefore, the support surface arrangements are preferably flat in order to accommodate a laboratory object that can be placed as universally as possible. Furthermore, the support surface arrangements can, in an advantageous development, be designed to accommodate more than one type of laboratory object by designing their support surface arrangements with a flat design.

[0049] During a support engagement, the support surface of a laboratory object is in contact with the support surface arrangement of a holding device. During the support engagement of the laboratory object and the holding device, the support surface and the support surface arrangement touch each other at the contact surface of the support engagement mentioned above.

[0050] In order to ensure a safe transfer of the laboratory object between the first and second receiving devices with the least possible effort, for example by ensuring the shortest possible transfer movement path of a receiving device designed to perform a transfer movement, the transfer relative movement path preferably runs transversely to the first support surface arrangement and / or transversely to the second support surface arrangement. To further optimize the transfer movement path, the transfer relative movement path runs orthogonally to the first support surface arrangement and / or orthogonally to the second support surface arrangement. Most preferably, the first and second support surface arrangements are parallel to one another, and the transfer relative movement path runs orthogonally to both support surface arrangements.The most secure possible support of the laboratory object on both the first and second support surface arrangements can be achieved in that one of the first and second receiving devices has, as the outer receiving device, a receiving frame that extends around an inner region of the outer receiving device that is free of material from the outer receiving device. Then, the other of the first and second receiving devices can have, as the inner receiving device, a receiving carrier such that a relative movement of the inner receiving device along the transfer relative movement path past the outer receiving device is a relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region of the receiving frame.

[0051] The support frame preferably has a C-shaped configuration with a frame base, from which a frame leg projects at a distance from each other to the same side. To enlarge the support surface arrangement and the contact surface achievable thereon, according to a further development of the invention, the longitudinal end regions of the frame legs remote from the frame base can be angled toward the respective other frame leg.

[0052] By using a support frame which is located locally with its support surface arrangement under a laboratory object in support engagement with the laboratory object, while at least another section of the storage surface of the laboratory object is not contacted by the support surface arrangement of the support frame, the section of the storage surface of the laboratory object which is not contacted by the support surface arrangement of the support frame can be brought into contact with the support surface arrangement of the support carrier.

[0053] Preferably, sections of the receiving frame which are not in contact with the laboratory object resting thereon project laterally beyond the storage surface of the laboratory object, for example in order to arrange there at least one form-locking element for securing the position of the laboratory carrier which is in contact with the receiving frame.For a transfer of the laboratory object from the donating support carrier to the receiving support frame, by using a support carrier which is located locally with its support surface arrangement under a laboratory object in support engagement with the laboratory object, while non-contacting sections of the storage surface of the laboratory object project laterally beyond the support carrier, at least one section of the storage surface of the laboratory object projecting laterally beyond the support surface arrangement of the support carrier can be brought into contact with the support surface arrangement of the support frame for a transfer of the laboratory object from the donating support carrier to the receiving support frame.

[0054] Preferably, sections of the support carrier which are not in contact with the laboratory article resting thereon project laterally beyond the storage surface of the laboratory article, preferably in order to arrange there the at least one form-locking element for securing the position of the laboratory carrier which is in contact with the support carrier.

[0055] The support carrier can also have a generally C-shaped or O-shaped configuration as described above, which, due to the interior space free of support carrier material, leads to an advantageously low moving mass of the support carrier. To ensure that the support carrier fits through the free interior space of the support frame, it is designed to be smaller than the support frame. According to a preferred development of the laboratory module, the support frame and / or the support carrier can have a functional device that acts on the transported laboratory object or interacts with a processing device of the laboratory module, such as a heater, a magnetic field source, or an electrode. The support frame and / or the support carrier can have a solid plate, preferably forming the support surface arrangement of the support frame and / or the support carrier or contributing to its formation, in particular to support the functional device.The plate can be formed from an electrically conductive material as an electrode. The plate can support at least one heating element and serve as a distribution device for the surface distribution of the heat emanating from the at least one heating element. Thus, a laboratory object held by the support frame and / or the support carrier can be heated as evenly as possible across its support surface or across the contact surface of the support engagement, and / or placed in an electric field, and / or resting on a surface with a defined, uniform electrical potential, and / or being held in a magnetic field.

[0056] A switchable magnetic field source can have at least one electromagnet that can be selectively energized and / or permanent magnets that can be moved relative to one another while changing the field strength of the magnetic field emanating from them.

[0057] To supply the functional device with energy, preferably electrical energy, the transport device comprising the functional device can carry a power supply or be supplied with energy via a power supply line. The power supply line can terminate at the receiving frame and / or receiving carrier supporting the functional device and be guided in a cable guide, such as a link chain or energy guide chain, for a cable movement that accompanies the movement of the receiving frame and / or receiving carrier. Alternatively, the energy can be supplied via a stationary conductor rail running along the transport path associated with the receiving frame and / or the receiving carrier with the functional device, and a current collector that moves with the transport device.

[0058] In principle, the direction of the transfer relative movement path can be a direction that is linearly independent of the directions of the first and second transport paths. In this case, the transfer movement is preferably a lifting and / or lowering movement, while the first and second transport paths each preferably run horizontally.

[0059] Preferably, the transfer movement serves exclusively to transfer or receive a laboratory object transported by a transferring receiving device to or by the other receiving receiving device. Likewise, the transfer movement can be used by the receiving device or transport device configured to carry out the transfer movement to transfer the transported laboratory object to a processing device of the laboratory module. An advantageously small, lightweight transfer movement drive and thus the lowest possible moving mass of the respective transport device can be achieved by ensuring that, for a receiving device drivable for movement along the transfer relative movement path, its maximum movement path along the transfer relative movement path is shorter than its maximum movement path along its transport path.Preferably, their maximum movement path along their transport path is at least twice, more preferably at least three times, even more preferably at least four times longer than their maximum movement path along the transfer relative movement path.

[0060] To perform laboratory tasks on a processing object, such as a metrological analysis of a processing object and / or a mixture of a pourable processing object of a defined composition and / or a separation of a defined quantity of a pourable processing object and the like, the laboratory module preferably comprises a processing device different from the transport arrangement for carrying out the laboratory processing process. The processing object can be a solid or a liquid. In the present preferred use of the laboratory module for analytical and / or productive biological and / or chemical, in particular biochemical, and / or pharmaceutical processing processes, the processing object is generally a liquid, with suspensions and emulsions also being considered liquids within the scope of the present application.Processing of the processing object in the processing device usually takes place on or in a single laboratory object in or on which the processing object is accommodated, such as in or on a single microtiter plate.

[0061] Another possible processing device is a reading device for identifying laboratory items based on identification codes carried by the items, such as barcodes, and / or for capturing data provided by the transported laboratory items, for example, via RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, to name just two possible examples. Furthermore, a laboratory work module can include an incubator or a cleaning device for cleaning laboratory items, especially microtiter plates.

[0062] In contrast to processing objects, laboratory objects are functional solids, such as containers, especially sample containers and microtiter plates, and pipette tips, that enable or support laboratory processing of the processing object without themselves being structurally or quantitatively altered by the laboratory processing. If laboratory objects are subject to metrological recording in the laboratory module, then they are usually used as an unavoidable collateral measurement object alongside the processing object as the actual measurement object and / or to compensate and correct the measurement result obtained on the processing object.

[0063] Therefore, one of the first and second transport devices can be designed as a delivery transport device for transporting a laboratory object to the processing device. The other of the first and second transport devices can then be a feed transport device that cooperates with the delivery transport device. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that only the delivery transport device be designed for transporting the laboratory object to the processing device. The feed transport device thus feeds the laboratory object to the delivery transport device, which then transports the laboratory object to the processing device and retrieves it from there. The feed transport device, on the other hand, preferably has no access to the processing device.This prevents the risk of collisions in the area of ​​the machining device, which is often equipped with complex, sensitive and expensive equipment.

[0064] A feed transport device can cooperate with a plurality of delivery transport devices along its transport path. Preferably, a plurality of transfer areas exist along the transport path of the feed transport device, in which the transport arrangement is designed to transfer a transported laboratory object between the feed transport device and a different delivery transport device. Particularly preferably, a separate transfer area exists for each delivery transport device cooperating with the feed transport device, so that the number of transfer areas is equal to the number of delivery transport devices cooperating with the feed transport device.

[0065] In some cases, the processing device may require more than one piece of laboratory equipment to perform its processing task. For example, a processing device may require both at least one piece of laboratory equipment and at least one piece of processing equipment for a processing operation. For reasons of process hygiene, for example, the processing device may be supplied with one or more disposable laboratory equipment that complement the processing device for the upcoming processing operation. For a pipetting device as a preferred processing device, disposable or single-use pipette tips are an example of laboratory equipment that is used exclusively for the upcoming pipetting operation.A liquid to be pipetted is an example of a processing object of the pipetting device, which preferably pipettes the also supplied liquid as the processing object using the supplied disposable pipetting tips.

[0066] In order to supply a processing device with more than just one laboratory object, the delivery-transport device can, according to a preferred development of the present invention, have two delivery-receiving devices designed to receive laboratory objects for transport by the delivery-transport device. The two delivery-receiving devices are preferably movable together, particularly preferably only together, along the transport path of the delivery-transport device. The transport path of the delivery-transport device is particularly preferably the second transport path. In order to be able to approach a work area of ​​the processing device one after the other by moving the delivery-transport device along its transport path with both delivery-receiving devices, the two delivery-receiving devices are arranged one behind the other along the transport path of the delivery-transport device.Although a height offset of the two delivery and receiving devices relative to each other is possible, the two delivery and receiving devices are arranged one behind the other along their transport path without any lateral offset to each other in order to achieve the smallest possible movement space above the base area of ​​the laboratory module.

[0067] Further preferably, the two delivery receiving devices are provided on the delivery transport device so as to be immovable relative to one another, for example, connected to a common transport base of the delivery transport device. The connection of the two delivery receiving devices to the common transport base can comprise a transfer movement drive and, if a particularly precise transfer movement is desired, a common transfer movement guide device, or can be formed by the transfer movement drive and optionally by the transfer movement guide device.

[0068] In the preferred case that the delivery transport device is designed to carry out a transfer movement, the two delivery receiving devices are also preferably movable together, particularly preferably only together, along the transfer relative movement path.

[0069] Preferably, the at least one delivery transport device, particularly preferably only this one, is designed to carry out the transfer movement and has a corresponding transfer movement drive. For the reasons stated above, preferably only the at least one delivery transport device is designed to carry out the transfer movement. By being designed to carry out a transfer movement, the at least one delivery transport device can not only take over a laboratory object from the feed transport device, but can also, if desired, transfer this laboratory object to a work storage device of the processing device. For this purpose, it is again sufficient if, of the work storage device and the receiving device of the delivery transport device, only the receiving device of the delivery transport device is designed to carry out a transfer movement.The work support device, on which the transferred laboratory object can rest during processing by the processing device, can then advantageously be designed to be rigid and thus particularly stiff, so that the work support device does not give way under any loads during processing by the processing device and enables very precise positioning of the laboratory object for subsequent processing.

[0070] The laboratory module can have at least one storage and storage device for temporarily storing a laboratory object, said storage device cooperating with the delivery and transport device for transferring a laboratory object, preferably by stripping it off. To keep the number of different components low, a receiving device of the storage and storage device can be designed like the feed and receiving device and / or like a provision and receiving device mentioned below. The storage and storage device can have an above-mentioned functional device, such as a heater and / or a magnetic field source and / or an electrode, optionally in conjunction with a solid plate described above, in order to be able to heat a laboratory object received thereon and to expose it to a magnetic field and / or an electric field and / or to be able to stir the contents of the laboratory object with a magnetic stirrer.

[0071] The transfer from the delivery transport device to a work storage device of the processing device is also preferably free of gripper devices.

[0072] Since the feed transport device is a transport device comprising a first and a second transport device, the feed transport device has a feed receiving device.

[0073] In particular, in order to be able to supply the processing device with two different laboratory objects and to be able to transfer both laboratory objects to the delivery-transport device or to receive them via the delivery-transport device by a movement along the transfer relative movement path, a further development of the present invention provides that a first of the two delivery-receiving devices is designed to transfer a first laboratory object, picked up by a releasing receiving device comprising the first delivery-receiving device and the feed-receiving device, from the releasing receiving device to the other receiving device comprising the first delivery-receiving device and the feed-receiving device. This allows a laboratory object to be transferred between the feed-receiving device and the first delivery-receiving device.

[0074] Likewise, a second of the two delivery-receiving devices is preferably configured to transfer a second laboratory object between the second delivery-receiving device and a provision station. The provision station, which can be arranged in the laboratory module or can be retracted into and out of the laboratory module, can provide a different laboratory object than the one supplied by the feed-transport device.

[0075] In order to manage with as few different designs of receiving devices as possible and thus to be able to provide the transport arrangement and optionally also the work storage device and the provision station with the largest possible number of identical parts that can cooperate with one another, the first and the second delivery receiving device are preferably each designed as an outer receiving device and each have a receiving frame which runs around a free inner region of the outer receiving device, or the first and the second delivery receiving device are preferably each designed as an inner receiving device and have a receiving carrier.

[0076] The provision station preferably has a provision receiving device, wherein the provision receiving device and the feed receiving device are each designed as an inner receiving device when the first and second delivery receiving devices are each designed as an outer receiving device, and wherein the provision receiving device and the feed receiving device are each designed as an outer receiving device when the first and second delivery receiving devices are each designed as an inner receiving device. A relative movement of the inner receiving device along the transfer relative movement path past the outer receiving device is then preferably a relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region of the receiving frame.

[0077] In this case, the feed transport device, the delivery transport device, the provision station, and particularly preferably also the work storage device can operate with just two different receiving devices. Furthermore, the first and second delivery receiving devices can have a different design, for example, because only one of them carries an aforementioned functional device. Preferably, the feed receiving device and the provision receiving device are of identical design. Transferring a laboratory object from the provision receiving device to the delivery receiving device, and preferably also in the opposite direction, also takes place without the involvement of an additional transfer device, such as a gripper, pusher, or the like.

[0078] A delivery receiving device preferably designed as a receiving carrier as described above can be designed as a solid plate.

[0079] The laboratory module preferably has a module frame which surrounds and accommodates the laboratory module. The module frame is preferably designed as a framework, for example as a cuboid frame which can be connected particularly well on all sides, in order to be able to arrange several laboratory modules in a row next to and / or behind and / or above one another and to connect them to one another to form passageways. The second transport device is preferably located entirely within the module frame. Due to preferred developments which are explained below, the first transport device is preferably located at least partially within the laboratory module. If the module frame accommodates more than one laboratory module, which is preferred, the first transport device is also preferably completely accommodated on or in the module frame, wherein the first transport path then preferably extends past the laboratory modules accommodated on or in the module frame.The laboratory module described above is characterized by extremely high positioning accuracy of transported laboratory items while requiring minimal equipment. One advantage of the laboratory module, as the name suggests, is that several laboratory modules, usually with different task or functional orientations, can be modularly configured to form a larger unit. The present invention therefore also relates to a laboratory arrangement comprising at least two laboratory modules, as described and further developed above, as laboratory work modules. The at least two laboratory work modules preferably follow one another along the direction of travel of the first transport path.A particular increase in efficiency can be achieved with this laboratory arrangement in that the at least two laboratory work modules have a common first transport device and each have at least one, preferably exactly one, second transport device as well as each have a transfer area.

[0080] The first transport device thus reaches the at least two laboratory work modules of the laboratory arrangement and can thus transfer a laboratory object from one laboratory work module of the laboratory arrangement to another laboratory work module of the same laboratory arrangement. Each laboratory work module, however, preferably has its own second transport device, which moves the laboratory object supplied by the first transport device into the respective laboratory work module and back again. Each laboratory work module preferably has a processing device, which is supplied by the second transport device as the delivery transport device, while the first transport device, as the feed transport device, feeds laboratory objects to and from the individual laboratory work modules of the laboratory arrangement.

[0081] The laboratory work modules, in particular the base plates supporting components of the respective laboratory work module, preferably have uniform base surface dimensions in each of two mutually orthogonal base surface spatial directions. Uniform dimensions are dimensions that differ from the larger dimension along one and the same spatial direction by no more than 7.5%, preferably by no more than 5%. The laboratory work modules, in particular their base plates, preferably have the same dimensions in each of three Cartesian spatial directions.

[0082] When the laboratory module shelves are in operational condition, floor area spatial directions are horizontal spatial directions.

[0083] The laboratory work modules preferably have a work module frame and are mounted on or in it. The work module frame is preferably designed as a framework, such as a cuboid frame with particularly good connection capabilities on all sides, so that passages exist between adjacent laboratory work modules, enabling the feed and transport device to move across all laboratory work modules. A common enclosure as a covering outer skin is therefore preferably provided not for each laboratory work module, but only for the modularly configured laboratory arrangement as a whole.

[0084] A work module frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory work module, which are arranged successively on or in the module frame along the feed transport path.

[0085] A common enclosure as a cladding outer skin is therefore preferably not intended for each laboratory work module, but only for the modularly configured laboratory arrangement as a whole.

[0086] The laboratory arrangement does not have to be limited to one arrangement level of modules. The laboratory arrangement can additionally comprise at least one laboratory base module, wherein a laboratory work module is arranged above a laboratory base module of the at least one laboratory base module to form a module tier. This means that preferably all laboratory base modules are located in one arrangement level, a base module level, and that all laboratory work modules are located in a different, second arrangement level, a work module level. As already described, the arrangement level of the laboratory base modules is preferably located below the arrangement level of the laboratory work modules. Likewise preferably, predominantly or even only the laboratory work modules have a processing device, while the laboratory base modules do not. A laboratory base module can have at least one storage device in order to provide laboratory objects for use in the laboratory work modules.A laboratory base module can additionally comprise a preparation device that prepares a laboratory item for use in a laboratory work module. One possible preparation device is a cleaning device for cleaning laboratory items, in particular containers, especially microtiter plates, in preparation for their further use, especially in an ELISA procedure.

[0087] Preferably, at least a plurality of laboratory work modules, particularly preferably all laboratory work modules, are supported by laboratory base modules. Preferably, a laboratory base module has the same footprint as a laboratory work module or an integer multiple thereof, so that a laboratory base module can support exactly one laboratory work module or a plurality of laboratory work modules.

[0088] The arrangement of the laboratory work modules in an arrangement plane ensures that all laboratory work modules can be formed with a, preferably substantially planar, transport arrangement consisting of a first transport device and a number of second transport devices, preferably corresponding to the number of laboratory work modules, wherein both the first transport path and all second transport paths preferably run horizontally. Preferably, a majority of the second transport paths, particularly preferably all second transport paths, of a laboratory arrangement are parallel to one another.

[0089] The laboratory base modules can be accessible to laboratory personnel, for example, to store laboratory items intended for use in the laboratory modules. A laboratory base module can have a pull-out drawer or a pull-out insert to facilitate work by operating personnel on the laboratory base module, for example, loading the laboratory base module, in particular its storage device, with laboratory items. To ensure this accessibility, preferably only the work module level has a transport arrangement as described above, but not the base module level. Individual base modules can have a transport device movable in the depth direction and / or in the height direction of a body of the laboratory arrangement, for example, to load and unload a cleaning device with laboratory items, in particular microtiter plates.Preferably, the base modules do not have a transport device whose transport path runs along a sequential direction in which laboratory base modules are arranged one after the other, in order not to hinder the preferred pull-out capability of individual laboratory base modules from a body of the laboratory arrangement.

[0090] The laboratory base modules can comprise a base module frame and be arranged within it. The base module frame is preferably designed as a framework, for example as a cuboid frame with particularly good connection capabilities on all sides. Passages can then exist between adjacent laboratory base modules and to laboratory work modules arranged above them. A laboratory base module and a laboratory work module arranged above it, in particular a laboratory work module supported by the laboratory base module, can use at least one common frame component, which is part of both the work module frame and the base module frame.

[0091] The base module frame preferably accommodates more than one laboratory base module, particularly preferably three laboratory base modules, which are arranged consecutively in the base module frame parallel to the feed transport path.

[0092] For reasons of easier production and assembly, the working module frame and the base module frame are preferably constructed with at least the same base area dimensions, preferably also with the same height dimensions, and particularly preferably even with the same structure.

[0093] The base module frame can also be the work module frame. Preferably, laboratory base modules are then arranged in the combined base and work module frame, and laboratory work modules are arranged on top of it. Even with such an arrangement, the laboratory base modules arranged in the base and work module frame support the laboratory work modules arranged on top of it.

[0094] In order to be able to move laboratory objects from a laboratory base module to a laboratory work module located above it, at least one module of the module rack preferably has a laboratory object lift, by means of which at least one laboratory object can be moved between the upper laboratory work module and the lower laboratory base module. The laboratory object lift can comprise or be an above-mentioned provision station of the laboratory module, from which the delivery transport device picks up the provided laboratory object and returns it again if necessary. The laboratory object lift can then preferably be a stack storage device in which successive receiving structures for each receiving at least one laboratory object are arranged along the direction of movement of the stack storage device, i.e. preferably along a vertical direction of movement. The stack storage device is an above-mentioned storage device.Since the laboratory equipment lift also transports the laboratory equipment it contains, it is also a conveying device. The laboratory equipment lift as a conveying device can be part of the laboratory work module or part of the laboratory base module, or both part of the laboratory work module and part of the laboratory base module, between which it transports a laboratory equipment.

[0095] A laboratory work module and / or a laboratory base module and / or the laboratory arrangement as a whole can have at least one control device that controls the operation of the laboratory work module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory arrangement. The at least one control device can, for example, control the transport of laboratory objects and the operation of at least one processing device. The control device can have at least one integrated circuit and at least one data memory. An operating program for execution by the at least one integrated circuit can be stored in the data memory.The data memory can store operating data which is recorded during operation of the laboratory work module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory arrangement by sensors in the laboratory work module and / or the laboratory base module and / or the laboratory arrangement, for example by position sensors for recording the position of a receiving device and / or a transport base along its transport route and / or by temperature sensors and / or by proximity sensors for recording the presence of a component at a predetermined location.

[0096] The laboratory setup discussed above can be used to conduct so-called ELISA tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays). Preferably, the complete ELISA test runs fully automatically in the laboratory setup. The test fluids and laboratory equipment required for the ELISA test must be loaded into the laboratory setup, specifically into at least one basic laboratory module, as well as a supply of microtiter plates and target vessels.

[0097] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

[0098] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a laboratory arrangement according to the invention,

[0099] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the laboratory arrangement according to the invention of Fig. 1 without enclosure,

[0100] Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a base and work module frame of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1 ,

[0101] Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a first transport device of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1,

[0102] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a laboratory work module of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a second receiving device of the second transport device of the laboratory work module of Fig. 5,

[0103] Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the second transport device of the laboratory work module of Fig. 5,

[0104] Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a laboratory base module of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1 ,

[0105] Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of an empty stack memory of the laboratory base module of Fig. 8,

[0106] Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a loaded stack memory of the laboratory base module of Fig. 8,

[0107] Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a base module level of a laboratory arrangement according to the invention with base modules pulled out of the base and work module frame,

[0108] Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a transfer area of ​​the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1 before a transfer of a laboratory object from the first to the second transport device,

[0109] Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the transfer area of ​​the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1 after a transfer of a laboratory object from the first to the second transport device,

[0110] Fig. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a laboratory work module with

[0111] Pipetting device of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1, and Fig. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a working area of ​​the pipetting device of a laboratory work module of the laboratory arrangement of Fig. 1.

[0112] The figures are not to scale, but represent proportions qualitatively correctly.

[0113] In Figure 1, a laboratory arrangement is generally designated by 10. The laboratory arrangement 10 has an outer skin 12, which surrounds the devices and components arranged in the interior 14 of the laboratory arrangement 10 and shields them from the external environment U. Processes in the interior 14 of the laboratory arrangement 10 can be observed through a front window 16 and a side window 18.

[0114] The side window 18 has a passage 20 for manually or robotically transporting a laboratory object from the external environment U into the interior 14 of the laboratory arrangement 10. Instead of the side window 18, the passage can be formed in the front window 16 or in any wall of the outer skin 12. The passage 20 can be closed by a flap (not shown in Figure 1) or it can be open throughout.

[0115] A status light 22 on the top side of the outer skin 12 indicates one or more operating states of the laboratory arrangement 10 by means of light signals.

[0116] Figure 1 shows a Cartesian coordinate system to facilitate the explanation of the laboratory setup 10 and its components, as well as to facilitate orientation, with the spatial directions x, y, and z. The Cartesian coordinate system is maintained throughout all figures.

[0117] The x-direction runs horizontally along the front side 12a of the outer skin 12 in the width direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. The y-direction also runs horizontally along the side surfaces 12b of the outer skin 12 in the depth direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. The z-direction runs vertically both along the front side 12a and along the side surfaces 12b of the outer skin 12 in the height direction of the laboratory arrangement 10. The x-direction and the y-direction are base area spatial directions in the sense of the description introduction.

[0118] On the front side 12a of the outer skin 12, slide-in fronts 26, 28, and 30 are provided in the lower extension area of ​​the outer skin 12 or the laboratory arrangement 10, which can be unlocked by switches 24. The slide-in fronts 26, 28, and 30, which are locked during operation, can be individually unlocked by actuating the switches 24. Base modules connected to the slide-in fronts 26, 28, and 30, which are explained further below, can then be pulled out of the body 32 of the laboratory arrangement 10 defined by the outer skin 12 in the opposite direction to the y-direction and pushed back into the body 32 in the y-direction. Manual inlets 34 facilitate the extraction of the base modules from the body 32.

[0119] Figure 2 shows the laboratory arrangement 10 without the outer skin 12. It can be seen that the laboratory arrangement 10 is a laboratory module tier 36 with a lower base module level 38 and a work module level 40 arranged above it. In the base module level 38 there are, for example, three laboratory base modules 42a, 42b and 42c, of which the middle and right laboratory base modules 42b and 42c respectively each have stack storage and of which the left laboratory base module 42a has a cleaning device 44.

[0120] The laboratory base modules 42a, 42b, and 42c are mounted side by side along the x-direction in a base and work module frame 46, which is constructed in a truss-like manner from vertical struts 48, horizontal cross struts 50 connecting the vertical struts 48, and horizontal longitudinal struts 52 connecting the cross struts 50. Parallel plates 54 are arranged laterally on the outermost compartments in the x-direction. The base module frame 46 is shown in isolation in Figure 3.

[0121] The base and work module frame 46 not only supports the three laboratory base modules 42a, 42b and 42c shown as examples, but also laboratory work modules 56a, 56b and 56c arranged in the work module level 40, which, like the laboratory base modules 42a, 42b and 42c below, are arranged side by side on the base and work module frame 46 along the x-direction.

[0122] The left laboratory work module 56a comprises an incubator 58 as a processing device 60, and a gripper 62. The middle laboratory work module 56b comprises a pipetting device 64 arranged on a bridge support 63 as a processing device 60. The right laboratory work module 56c comprises a barcode reader 66 as a processing device 60.

[0123] On the front side of the base or work module frame 46, above the upper cross strut 50, a first transport device 68 is arranged, which is explained in more detail in connection with Figure 4. The first transport device 68 is a feed transport device 68, whose first transport path 70, which runs parallel to the x-direction and is also a feed transport path 70, leads past all three laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c, so that the first transport device 68 can transport a laboratory object to each individual laboratory work module 56a, 56b, and 56c of the work module level 40.

[0124] The incubator 58 is loaded and unloaded with laboratory items, in the present case with microtiter plates, by the gripper 62, wherein the gripper 62 removes laboratory items from the first receiving device 72 of the first transport device 68 and places them on a loading frame 74 that can be extended from and retracted into the incubator 58, or removes laboratory items from the loading frame 74 and places them on the first receiving device 70.

[0125] The middle and left laboratory work modules 56b and 56c each have a second transport device 76, which is explained in detail below.

[0126] In Figure 4, the first transport device 68 is shown in isolation.

[0127] A first transport device carrier 78, which supports the other components of the first transport device 68, can be attached to a front upper cross member 50 of the base and work module frame 46. The first transport device carrier 78 carries on its upper side a guide rail 80 running parallel to the x-direction, which guides a first transport base 82 of the first transport device 68 along the first transport path 70. The guide rail 80 defines the first transport path 70.

[0128] The transport base 82 is guided on the guide rail 80 by means of rolling elements.

[0129] The first transport base 82 is further clamped to a rotating belt 84 of a first transport drive 86 of the first transport device 68 in the form of a belt drive. An electric motor 88 of the first transport drive 86 drives the belt 84 in one of two opposite directions of rotation, depending on the drive direction of the electric motor 88, and thus moves the first transport base 82 and, with it, the first receiving device 72, which is rigidly connected to the first transport base 82, along the first transport path 70.

[0130] The first receiving device 72 comprises, as an outer receiving device, a receiving frame with a base 72a, with legs 72b projecting therefrom at each longitudinal end of the base 72a, and with leg ends 72c angled toward one another at each longitudinal end of a leg 72b remote from the base 72a. An inner region 73 of the outer first receiving device 72, designed as a receiving frame, is free of material of the first receiving device 72.

[0131] On the sections of the base 72a, the legs 72b, and the leg ends 72c facing the interior, a support surface 75a, 75b, and 75c is formed (the support surfaces 75b and 75c are present twice, but are only visible once in Figure 4 due to the chosen perspective). The individual support surfaces 75a, 75b, and 75c form a first support surface arrangement 77 lying in a common plane, on which a storage surface of a laboratory object can rest in contact.The more solid and in particular thicker sections 79a, 79b and 79c of the base 72a, the legs 72b and the leg ends 72c, which are located radially outside the support surfaces 75a, 75b and 75c with respect to the material-free inner region 73, as the components of the first support device designed as a support frame, form form-locking elements which prevent a relative displacement of a laboratory object placed on the first support surface arrangement 77 in two spatial directions that are orthogonal to one another and parallel to the first support surface arrangement 77 and thus hold a laboratory object placed on the first support surface arrangement 77 in the plane of the support surface arrangement 77.

[0132] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the laboratory work module 56b with the pipetting device 64 as the processing device 60 in isolation.

[0133] The laboratory work module 56b in Figure 5 has a base plate 90, which can be connected to the struts 50 and 52 on the top side of the base and work module frame 46 and thus fixed to the frame. The base plate 90 can be designed differently for different laboratory work modules, such as the laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c, depending on the requirements of the processing device 60 to be arranged thereon or on it and, if applicable, other functional devices. However, the base plates 90 of the laboratory work modules 56a, 56b, and 56c have essentially the same dimensions in the x-direction and also essentially the same dimensions in the y-direction.

[0134] The bridge support 63 is fixed to the base plate 90, spanning the base plate 90 in the width direction, i.e., in the x-direction. A cross member 63a of the bridge support 63 carries the pipetting device 64 with a plurality of pipetting channels 92, eight in the illustrated example, arranged side by side in the x-direction. The pipetting channels 92 extend along respective channel axes K, which run parallel to the z-direction. For the sake of clarity, only one of the eight parallel channel axes K is shown in Figure 5. In the preferred embodiment shown, the pipetting channels 92 are only movable together and only along the channel axis K, so that the pipetting channels 92 can only be brought closer to and removed from the base plate 90 at the location of their arrangement.This simple kinematics of the pipetting device 64 enables a very simple construction of the pipetting device 64 with only one movement guide for all pipetting channels 92, which can be carried out very precisely with little effort due to the single degree of freedom of movement along the channel axis K.

[0135] In the illustrated embodiment, the pipetting device 64 has its own control device 94, which controls the operation of the pipetting device 64. The control device 94 can operate as a slave control device 94 in cooperation with a higher-level master control device of the laboratory arrangement 10.

[0136] On the longitudinal side of the base plate 90 facing away from the viewer in Figure 5, a second transport device 96 is attached. This second transport device is a delivery transport device 96 that delivers laboratory items to the pipetting device 64 for carrying out pipetting processes. The second transport device 96 is movable along a second transport path 98 or delivery transport path 98. The second or delivery transport path 98 is defined by the path of a guide rail 100 of the second transport device 96. The first and second transport devices 68 and 96 together form a transport arrangement 99 (see Figures 12 and 13).

[0137] The second transport device 96 has a second receiving device 102, which is a receiving arrangement 104 with a first delivery receiving device 104a and a second delivery receiving device 104b. Analogous to the first transport device 68, the second receiving device 102 is movably guided on the guide rail 100 along the second transport path 98 via a second transport base 106, which is roller-based in the example shown, and is coupled to a belt 108 of a belt drive 110, which can be driven by an electric motor 112 in two opposite directions of rotation for movement while entraining the second transport base 106 and the second receiving device 102. The electric motor 112 and the belt drive 110 form a second transport drive 114.

[0138] The second receiving device 102 can be raised and lowered in the z-direction from the position shown in Figure 5 to carry out a transfer movement, which will be explained in more detail below. For this purpose, the second transport base 106 has a transfer drive 116 comprising an electric motor drive 118, a vertically extending guide rail 120 that can be displaced together with the second transport base 106 along the second transport path 98, and a belt 122 of a transfer belt drive 124 that can be driven in opposite directions of rotation by the electric motor drive 118. A transfer base 123 (see Figures 6, 7, 12, and 13) is guided on the guide rail 120, preferably with rolling element bearings, and is coupled to the belt 122 for joint movement. The second receiving device 102 is directly coupled to the transfer base 123 for joint movement.

[0139] On the longitudinal side of the base plate 90 facing the viewer of Figure 5, closer to the longitudinal end of the base plate 90 having the electric motor 112, two essentially identical vertical guides 126 of a respective vertical laboratory object lift 128 are fixed to the base plate 90. The vertical guides 126 pass through an opening 130 through which the respective laboratory object lift 128 can vertically transport laboratory objects as a conveying device from the base module level 38 to the work module level 40.

[0140] In Figure 6, the second receiving device 102 or receiving arrangement 104 with the second transport base 106 and the transfer drive 116 is shown in isolation.

[0141] The first delivery-receiving device 104a has a support surface arrangement 132, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by four separate support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d. The four support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d are located in the corner regions of the overall surface of the first delivery-receiving device 104a. The support surface arrangement 132 of the first delivery-receiving device 104a is dimensioned such that it can be moved through the interior region 73 of the first receiving device 72 in a direction of movement orthogonal to both the support surface arrangement 77 and the support surface arrangement 132 in opposite directions. Such an orthogonal movement path corresponds to the transfer path or transfer relative movement path TRB running along the z-axis.

[0142] The first delivery receiving device 104a also has a solid plate 135 located radially inward of the four separate support surfaces 134a, 134b, 134c, and 134d. This plate may be rectangular and, as shown in the preferred embodiment, may have rounded corners.

[0143] In the corner areas outside the support surface arrangement 132, projections 136 are arranged orthogonally to the support surface arrangement 132, which secure a laboratory object resting on the support surface arrangement 132 against displacement orthogonal to the transfer relative movement path TRW or parallel to the support surface arrangement 132. For this purpose, two projections 136 are arranged in each corner area so that the two projections 136 can rest against a common component edge of a laboratory object with, in this case, a rectangular base area, such as a microtiter plate.

[0144] The solid receiving plate 135 of the first delivery receiving device 104a can have a functional device 138, such as a heating device, a device for generating a magnetic field, or the receiving plate can be configured as an electrode for generating an electric field. In this way, a laboratory object resting on the first delivery receiving device 104a can be heated or tempered, can be exposed to a magnetic field, for example, to accelerate magnetic or soft-magnetic particles in the laboratory object toward the solid receiving plate 135, to operate a magnetic stirrer in the laboratory object, or to perform detection in an electric field, such as capacitive detection of a liquid surface (CLLD = Capacitive Liquid Level Detection).In contrast to the first delivery receiving device 104a, the second delivery receiving device 104b is not provided with a solid receiving plate 135, but, like the first receiving device 72, is designed as a receiving frame with a free interior. As with the first receiving device 72, which is also designed as a C-shaped receiving frame, the support surface arrangement 140 of the second delivery receiving device 104b is also formed by separate and spaced-apart support surfaces 142a, 142b, 142c, and 142d. However, unlike the first receiving device 72, these support surfaces are not located along the edges of a rectangular base area of ​​the laboratory object to be received, but rather in its corner regions.

[0145] In principle, however, the first delivery receiving device 104a can also have a C-shaped receiving frame under the solid receiving plate 135 with a similar or identical base area to that of the C-shaped receiving frame of the second delivery receiving device 104b.

[0146] The receiving frame of the second delivery receiving device 104b also has a base 144a, from whose longitudinal end regions parallel legs 144b protrude in the same direction. In contrast to the receiving frame of the first delivery receiving device 72, the longitudinal end regions of the legs 144b are not angled toward one another. Like the first delivery receiving device 104a, the second delivery receiving device 104b is an internal receiving device. Due to its external dimensions, the second delivery receiving device 104b is also generally movable through the interior region 73 of the receiving device 72, assuming that the second delivery receiving device 104b can reach the receiving device 72. In fact, the second delivery receiving device 104b is movable through the interior region 173 of the provision receiving device 172 (see Fig. 9), explained further below.

[0147] Also in each corner region of the support surface arrangement 140 of the second delivery-receiving device 104b, in the same way as on the first delivery-receiving device 104a, two projections 136 projecting orthogonally to the support surface arrangement 140 are provided in order to secure a laboratory object resting on the support surface arrangement 140 against displacement parallel to the support surface arrangement 140.

[0148] In the illustrated embodiment, the first delivery-receiving device 104a is connected via an extension arm 146 to the transfer base 123, which is guided along the guide rail 120 and driven by the belt 122, and is thus offset in the depth direction along the y-axis with respect to the guide rail 120. The second delivery-receiving device 104b, on the other hand, is located directly at the depth coordinate (y-coordinate) of the guide rail 120.

[0149] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the second transport device 96 with its second transport device carrier 148, which can be attached to a longitudinal strut 52 and, if desired, also to a transverse strut 50 of the base and work module frame 46 or to the base plate 90 of the laboratory work module 56b. However, the second transport drive 114 is not shown in Figure 6.

[0150] The movement guidance of the second transport base 106 may differ slightly in Figures 5 and 7 in details that are not important here.

[0151] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the middle laboratory base module 42b, which in Figure 2 is inserted in the base and work module frame 46 below the laboratory work module 56b with the pipetting device 64.

[0152] The laboratory base module 42b has its own module frame 150, which is installed and secured in the base and work module frame 46. The module frame 150, as the base module frame 150 in the narrower sense for a single laboratory base module 42b or 42c, is also constructed in a truss-like manner using struts.

[0153] The drawer front 28 is the front side of a drawer 152, which can be pulled out of the module frame 150 along the y-axis. Also installed in the module frame 150 are two laboratory object lifts 128, whose push plates 154 can be seen on the top side of the laboratory base module 42b. The push plates 154 are movable parallel to the z-direction by a corresponding conveyor drive and can move stack storage devices arranged in the drawer 152, along with their contents, in and against the z-direction.

[0154] In Figures 9 and 10, a stack storage 156 is shown in perspective, wherein the stack storage in Figure 9 is empty and wherein the stack storage 156 in Figure 10 is populated with a subselection 158 of laboratory items. In this case, the subselection 158 is a second subselection 158 comprising a source container 158a and a pipette tip assembly 158b as laboratory items.

[0155] Figure 11 shows how the stack storage units 156 of Figures 9 and 10 can be suspended in side walls 153 of the drawers 152 so that they can then be moved by a laboratory item lift 128 through the opening 130 in the base plate 90 into the workspace of an overlying laboratory work module 56b or another laboratory work module 56. If the specific design of a laboratory work module as a laboratory work module 56a, 56b, or 56c is not important below, the laboratory work module is designated "56" without any lowercase letters.

[0156] The stack storage 156 extends predominantly in the z-direction, parallel to which it is displaced along a displacement path V by the laboratory object lift 128 during operation of the laboratory arrangement 10.

[0157] The stack storage unit 156 has a base 159, which is provided with a central opening to save weight. At the opposite upper longitudinal end, the stack storage unit 156 has a closed, circumferential stabilizing structure 160 with a carrying handle 162 extending through the stabilizing structure 160. An operator can grasp the carrying handle 162 to carry, manipulate, and set down the stack storage unit 156. A stack storage enclosure 164 incompletely encloses the stack storage unit 156 in the circumferential direction around the displacement path V. This enables the second delivery receiving device to engage the stack storage unit 156. On the side of the stack storage unit 156 facing away from the viewer of Figures 9 and 10, a vertical guide rail 166 is arranged, which extends over at least 70% of the height of the stack storage unit 156.During operation, the vertical guide rail 166 cooperates with the vertical guides 126 on the laboratory work module 56b to guide the vertical lifting and lowering movement by the laboratory object lift 128. Using a pin that protrudes orthogonally from the vertical guide rail 166, i.e., in the illustrated embodiment, opposite to the x-direction, which is not shown in the figures, the stack storage 156 can be suspended in a vertical groove 168 of a suspension device 170 arranged on the inside of the side wall 153 of the insert 152 (see Figure 11). Thus, the stack storage 156 can be provided in a laboratory base module 42b or 42c or in any other laboratory base module 42 until it is finally used by a laboratory work module 56 arranged above it, such as the laboratory work module 56b.If the specific design of a basic laboratory module as basic laboratory module 56a, 56b or 56c is not relevant below, the basic laboratory module is designated with "42" without lowercase letters.

[0158] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, four receiving structures 171 are arranged consecutively along a stacking axis S, which corresponds to the displacement path V. The receiving structures 171 serve to receive the second sub-selection 158 for reception by the second delivery receiving device 104b of the second transport device 96 in the laboratory work module 56b.

[0159] The identically designed receiving structures 171 have a receiving frame, the shape of which corresponds to the first receiving device 72. This receiving frame is a provision receiving device 172 designed as a receiving frame. The provision receiving device 172, like the first receiving device 72, is an external receiving device. It can cooperate with the supply receiving devices 104a and 104b, preferably with the second supply receiving device 104b, for transferring the provided subselection 158 between the stack memory 156 and the supply receiving device, just as the first receiving device 72 does. What is stated in the present description regarding the interaction between one of the first supply receiving devices 104a and the first receiving device 72 also applies, mutatis mutandis, to a description of the interaction between the second supply receiving device 104b and a provision receiving device 172.Likewise, the description of the first receiving device 72 also applies as a description of the provision receiving device 172.

[0160] In contrast to the first receiving device 72, the provision receiving device 172 has, in its interior region 173, a solid plate 174 projecting from the base 172a of the receiving frame of the provision receiving device 172. Legs corresponding to the legs 72b of the first receiving device 72 are designated analogously by 172b on the provision receiving device 172. The same applies to the leg ends 172c, which are angled toward one another, in relation to the previously explained leg ends 72c.

[0161] For the sake of clarity, not all of the receiving structures 171 are provided with further reference symbols in detail.

[0162] In Figure 11, inserts 152 are shown pulled out from a base and work module frame 46 counter to the y-direction. The base and work module frame 46 of Figure 11 comprises, for example, more than three laboratory base modules 42, which is readily possible within the scope of the present invention. The laboratory base modules shown in Figure 11 correspond in design to the laboratory base module 42b.

[0163] Operating personnel can therefore pull out inserts 152 from the body 32 from the front 12a of a laboratory arrangement 10, for example to load the inserts 152 by hanging stack storage units 156 in suspension devices 170 on side walls 153 of the inserts 152, and to remove any used sub-selections 158 from the inserts 152. In Figure 11, the frontmost stack storage unit 156 shows how it can be moved along the z-direction, i.e. along a displacement path V not shown in Figure 11, via the push plates 154 (see Fig. 8) which are displaceable in the height direction, i.e. in the z-direction, starting from its hanging position into the laboratory work module 56 located above.

[0164] In Figures 12 and 13, the transfer of a microtiter plate 158c as a laboratory item is a first sub-selection 157 from a set of laboratory items comprising the microtiter plate 158c as a target vessel, the source vessel 158a and the pipetting tip assembly 158b, which is required for performing a pipetting task by the pipetting device 64.

[0165] In the earlier state of Figure 12, the microtiter plate 158c is in contact with the first receiving device 72, which has moved the microtiter plate 158c into a transfer area 176 along the first transport path 70. In the transfer area 176, a transfer of the microtiter plate 158c from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a, or vice versa, is possible. When the first receiving device 72 is in the position associated with the transfer area 176 along the first transport path 70, the first receiving device 72 forms a transfer station 178 for a transfer of the microtiter plate 158c from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a.

[0166] The second transport device 96 has been moved along its second transport path 98 into a position in which the first delivery receiving device 104a, which cooperates with the first receiving device 72 for transferring the microtiter plate 158c, is located below the inner region 73 of the first receiving device 72 covered by the microtiter plate 158c, such that a movement of the first delivery receiving device 104a allows it to be moved through the inner region 73 along the transfer relative movement path TRB in the vertical direction, carrying the microtiter plate 158c along with it. During this movement, the microtiter plate 158c, which rests only on the first support surface arrangement 77, is lifted off the latter. The support engagement of the microtiter plate 158c with the first receiving device 72 is thus released.At the same time, a support engagement of the microtiter plate 158c with the support surface arrangement 132 of the first delivery receiving device 104a is established.

[0167] Figure 12 shows a situation before a transfer of the microtiter plate 158c from the first receiving device 72 to the first delivery receiving device 104a, in which the second receiving device 102 with the receiving arrangement 104 comprising the first and second delivery receiving devices 104a and 104b is in the fully lowered position along the transfer relative movement path TRB.

[0168] Figure 13 shows the transfer area 176 with a receiving arrangement 104 completely raised along the transfer relative movement path TRB, wherein the first delivery receiving device 104a completely traverses the inner area 73 of the first receiving device 72 in the vertical direction along the transfer relative movement path TRB and in the process has lifted the microtiter plate 158c from the first receiving device 72 while establishing a support engagement with the first delivery receiving device 104a as described above.

[0169] The vertical position of the first receiving device 72 is unchanged in Figures 12 and 13, since a movement along the first transport path 70 is the only degree of freedom of movement of the first receiving device 72 or the first transport device 68.

[0170] A transfer of the microtiter plate 158c from the first delivery / receiving device 104a to the first receiving device 72 proceeds in the reverse movement sequence, i.e., the first delivery / receiving device 104a, with the microtiter plate 158c resting thereon, is moved over the first receiving device 72 provided in the transfer area 176 and then lowered along the transfer relative movement path TRB through the inner area 73, wherein the microtiter plate 158c remains in contact with the first support surface arrangement 77, establishing a support engagement. This type of transfer of a microtiter plate 158c between the first delivery / receiving device 104a and the first receiving device 72 is referred to in the present application as a stripping transfer, regardless of the transfer direction.

[0171] After the receiving arrangement 104 has been moved out of the extension area of ​​the first receiving device 72 along the second transport path 98, it is lowered along the transfer relative movement path TRB.

[0172] In principle, a transfer of the second sub-selection 158 with the source container 158a and the pipette tip assembly 158b as the laboratory items of the second sub-selection 158 mutatis mutandis between the second delivery receiving device 104b and the provision receiving device 172 proceeds in the same way as the transfer of the first sub-selection 157 or the microtiter plate 158c between the first delivery receiving device 104a and the first receiving device 72.

[0173] The receiving arrangement 104 or the first delivery receiving device 104a can be lowered along the transfer relative movement path TRB relative to the first receiving device 72 to such an extent that the first delivery receiving device 104a, with the microtiter plate 158c resting thereon, can be moved along the second transport path 98 below the first receiving device 72 provided in the transfer area 176. This ensures that the first receiving device 72 can be moved along the first transport path 70 regardless of whether the first delivery receiving device 104a is loaded and regardless of its position along its second transport path 98. Furthermore, a microtiter plate 158c resting in engagement with the first delivery receiving device 104a can be moved as desired along the second transport path 98.

[0174] As indicated in Figures 14 and 15, the pipetting device 64 pipettes from its pipetting channels 92 into the microtiter plate 158c as the source container, while the latter rests on the first delivery receiving device 104a. As a result, mobility of the pipetting channels 92 only along their pipetting channels K, which in the illustrated embodiment run parallel to the z-direction, is sufficient as the sole degree of freedom of movement of the pipetting channels 92. As a result, the pipetting device 64 can be constructed significantly simpler and more cost-effectively while maintaining the same positioning accuracy of its pipetting channels 92.

[0175] In Figure 14, a second sub-selection 158 with a plurality of source containers 158a and a plurality of pipette tip assemblies 158b is received on the second delivery receiving device 104b and is in supporting engagement therewith. The second sub-selection 158 received on the second delivery receiving device 104b was previously picked up by the now empty supply receiving device 172 of the stack storage 156 raised along its displacement path V parallel to the z-direction, i.e., transferred from the supply receiving device 172 to the second delivery receiving device 104b by a transfer movement of the second delivery receiving device 104b.

[0176] In the example shown, the empty provision receiving device 172 is the third provision receiving device 172 from the top in the stack storage 156. In Figure 14, this is located in a provision area 180, in which a transfer of the second subselection 158 from the delivering provision receiving device 172 to the receiving second delivery receiving device 104b is possible. The stack storage 156, together with the laboratory article lift 128, forms a provision station 182, in which a desired second subselection 158 can be provided in the stack storage 156 for transfer from the stack storage 156 to the receiving arrangement 104.

[0177] Due to the uniform design of the first receiving device 72 and the supply receiving device 172, and due to the uniform design of the installation surfaces of the sub-selections 157 and 158, the first transport device 68 can also transport second sub-selections 158 in a transferable manner, and the stack storage 156 can convey first sub-selections 157 in a transferable manner. By using the second receiving device 102 with the receiving arrangement 104 comprising the two supply receiving devices 104a and 104b, a set of laboratory items required to perform a pipetting task, consisting of the source container 158a with the dosing liquid to be pipetted held therein, the pipetting tip arrangement 158b, each with eight disposable pipetting tips 184, and the microtiter plate 158c as the source container, can only be configured in the work area 186 of the pipetting device 64.

[0178] A pipetting process in the working area 186 of the pipetting device 64 of the laboratory work module 56b is shown in Figure 15.

[0179] The pipetting tip arrangement 158b is provided with eight disposable pipetting tips 184 arranged side by side parallel to the x-direction such that the disposable pipetting tips 184 can be coupled to the eight pipetting channels 92, which are also arranged side by side parallel to the x-direction. For this purpose, a coupling longitudinal end 184a is provided pointing toward the longitudinal end of the pipetting channel 92.

[0180] 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 pipetting tips 184 of a pipetting tip arrangement 158b to the pipetting channels 92. Subsequently, a source container 158a is moved below the dispensing openings of the coupled disposable pipetting tips 184 so that the pipetting device 64 can aspirate dispensing liquid from the source container 158a.

[0181] The microtiter plate 158c is then moved beneath the disposable pipette tips 184 received on the pipette channels 92, so that the pipetting device 64 can dispense dosing liquid aspirated into the disposable pipette tips 184 into individual wells 188 of the microtiter plate 158c. The wells 188 are arranged in a matrix-like manner in the microtiter plate 158c in a known manner, in the example shown in an 8 x 12 matrix. Therefore, dosing liquid can be dispensed simultaneously, row by row, into one of the twelve well rows of eight wells 188 each. After use, the disposable pipette tips 184 can be returned to their delivery receptacle and decoupled from the pipette channels 92. Alternatively, disposable pipetting tips 184 can be ejected from the pipetting channels into a waste container after use through the opening 130 or through another opening in the base plate 90.The waste container may be provided in a laboratory base module 42b arranged below the laboratory work module 56b.

[0182] The second transport device 96 can be moved one row spacing between two dispensations so that a subsequent dispensation can be made into a new row with eight wells 188.

[0183] After the pipetting task has been performed, the microtiter plate 158c, now filled with dosing liquid, can be transported by the second transport device 96 by means of the first delivery-receiving device 104a and by the first transport device 68 into a further laboratory work module 56b, for example into a laboratory work module 56a with an incubator 58.

Claims

Claims 1. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) comprising a transport arrangement (99) for transporting a laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) within the laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c), wherein the transport arrangement (99) has a first and a second transport device (68, 96), wherein the first transport device (68) has a first receiving device (72) for receiving the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) for a transport of the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) by the first transport device (68), and wherein the second transport device (96) has a second receiving device (102) different from the first receiving device (72) for receiving the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) for a transport of the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) by the second transport device (96),wherein the first receiving device (72) is movable along a first transport path (70) and wherein the second receiving device (102) is movable along a second transport path (98) which is different from the first transport path (70), wherein the transport arrangement (99) has a transfer region (176) in which the transport arrangement (99) is designed to transfer a transported laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) from a releasing receiving device consisting of the first and second receiving devices (72, 102) to the respective other receiving device consisting of the first and second receiving devices (72, 102), wherein at least one receiving device consisting of the first and second receiving devices (72, 102) is drivable to a transfer movement at least in the transfer region (176), wherein a transfer movement of at least one receiving device (72,102) in the transfer area (176) effected transfer relative movement path (TRB) between the first and the second receiving device (72, 102) extends transversely to both the course of the first and the second transport path (70, 98) in the transfer area (176), wherein the first and the second receiving device (72, 102) are physically designed differently such that the first and the second receiving device (72, 102) are movable past one another in the transfer region (176) along the transfer relative movement path (TRB), wherein the transfer movement cancels a receiving engagement of the laboratory article (158a, 158b, 158c) with the releasing receiving device and establishes it with the receiving receiving device.

2. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer relative movement path (TRB) is orthogonal to the course of the first and / or the second transport path (70, 98) in the transfer area (176).

3. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the course of the first transport path (70) and the course of the second transport path (98) are oriented transversely to one another at least in the transfer area (176).

4. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only one receiving device from the first and second receiving device (70, 102) can be driven for the transfer movement at least in the transfer area (176).

5. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first receiving device (72) is connected to a first transport base (82) which is movable along the first transport path (70), wherein the first transport base (82) has no further translational degree of freedom of movement in addition to the mobility along the first transport path (70) and / or that the second receiving device (102) is connected to a second transport base (106) which is movable along the second transport path (98), wherein the second transport base has no further translational degree of freedom of movement in addition to the mobility along the second transport path (98).

6. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first receiving device (72) has a first support surface arrangement (77) for receiving the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) by placing it on the first support surface arrangement (77) and that the second receiving device (102) has a second support surface arrangement (132, 140) for receiving the laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) by placing it on the second support surface arrangement (132, 140).

7. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 6, characterized in that the transfer relative movement path (TRB) runs transversely to the first support surface arrangement (77) and / or transversely to the second support surface arrangement (132, 140).

8. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one receiving device (72) from the first and second receiving devices (72, 102) has, as the outer receiving device (72), a receiving frame which runs around a free inner region (173) of the outer receiving device (72), wherein the respective other receiving device (102) from the first and second receiving devices (72, 102) has, as the inner receiving device (102), a receiving carrier such that a relative movement of the inner receiving device (102) along the transfer relative movement path (TRB) past the outer receiving device (72) is a relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region (73) of the receiving frame.

9. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a receiving device (102) drivable for movement along the transfer relative movement path (TRB), its maximum movement path along the transfer relative movement path (TRB) is shorter than its maximum movement path along its transport path (98).

10. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) has a processing device (60) different from the transport arrangement (99) for carrying out a processing operation, wherein one transport device (96) from the first and the second transport device (68, 96) is designed as a delivery transport device (96) for transporting a laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) to the processing device (60), wherein the respective other transport device (68) from the first and the second transport device (68, 96) is a feed transport device (68) cooperating with the delivery transport device (96).

11. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 10, characterized in that the delivery transport device (98) has two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b) designed to receive laboratory objects (158a, 158b, 158c) for transport by the delivery transport device (98), which are movable together along the second transport path (98).

12. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 11, characterized in that the feed transport device (68) has a feed receiving device (72), wherein a first (104a) of the two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b) is designed to transfer a first laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) received by a delivering receiving device from the first delivery receiving device (104a) and feed receiving device (72) from the delivering receiving device to the respective other receiving device from the first delivery receiving device (104a) and feed receiving device (72), wherein a second (104b) of the two delivery receiving devices (104a, 104b) is designed to transfer a second laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) between the second delivery receiving device (104b) and a Provisioning station (182).

13. Laboratory module (56a, 56b, 56c) according to claim 12, including claim 8, characterized in that the first and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are each designed as an outer receiving device and each have a receiving frame which runs around a free inner region of the outer receiving device, or that the first and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are each designed as an inner receiving device and have a receiving carrier, wherein the supply station (182) has a supply receiving device (172), wherein the supply receiving device (172) and the feed receiving device (72) are each designed as an inner receiving device when the first and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are each designed as an outer receiving device,and wherein the provision receiving device (172) and the feed receiving device (72) are each designed as an outer receiving device when the first and the second delivery receiving device (104a, 104b) are each designed as an inner receiving device, wherein a relative movement of the inner receiving device along the transfer relative movement path (TRB) past the outer receiving device is a relative movement of the receiving carrier through the inner region of the receiving frame., 14. Laboratory arrangement (10), comprising at least two laboratory modules (56a, 56b, 56c) according to one of the preceding claims as laboratory work modules (56), wherein the at least two laboratory work modules (56) follow one another along the direction of travel of the first transport path (70), wherein the at least two laboratory work modules (56) have a common first transport device (68) and each have their own second transport device (96) and each have a transfer area (176).

15. Laboratory arrangement (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the laboratory arrangement (10) additionally comprises at least one laboratory base module (42a, 42b, 42c), wherein one of the at least two laboratory work modules (56) are arranged above or on a laboratory base module (42a, 42b, 42c) of the at least one laboratory base module (42a, 42b, 42c) to form a module shelf (36), wherein at least one module (42, 56) of the module shelf (36) has a laboratory object lift (128) by means of which at least one laboratory object (158a, 158b, 158c) is displaceable between the upper laboratory work module (56) and the lower laboratory base module (42a, 42b, 42c).

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