Vertical Shelving Automation for Compact Robotic Laboratory Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated laboratory systems require a large horizontal footprint, limiting space for peripheral equipment and personnel access, and do not enable safe and efficient access to instruments without compromising assays.
Innovation Solution
A vertical shelving system with modular, rotatable shelves that allow instruments to be docked or undocked for robotic access and personnel access, reducing the horizontal footprint and enabling safe, convenient access while maintaining assay integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional automated laboratory systems use horizontal tabletops with robots and instruments, then instruments can be accessed by the robot, but the horizontal footprint becomes large, limiting space for peripheral equipment and personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal tabletop layout to a vertical shelving system. Instruments are arranged on multiple vertical shelves that can be docked or undocked, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint while maintaining robotic accessibility through vertical movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelving system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. Shelves can be docked into position for robotic access and undocked for personnel access or maintenance. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt between different operational modes, resolving the contradiction between robotic access and space efficiency.
2Productivity
If instruments are positioned on horizontal tabletops around the robot, then the robot can transfer samples between instruments, but personnel cannot safely and conveniently access instruments without compromising the assay
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows shelves to be dynamically docked or undocked based on operational needs. When docked, instruments are positioned for optimal robotic access to maintain productivity. When undocked, shelves can be moved to accessible locations that allow personnel to safely and conveniently access instruments for maintenance, loading, or monitoring without compromising the ongoing assay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the instrument access into two distinct modes: robotic access mode with shelves docked in fixed positions for automated sample transfer, and personnel access mode with shelves undocked and repositioned for safe human interaction. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing dedicated configurations for each user type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more instruments are added to the automated laboratory system, then the system can perform more assays, but the horizontal footprint increases, leaving little space for peripheral equipment and other systems
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding instruments horizontally which increases footprint, the system adds instruments vertically across multiple shelves. This vertical stacking allows a greater number of instruments to be accommodated within the same horizontal space, thereby increasing system versatility without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical shelving system creates a nested arrangement where multiple shelves with instruments are stacked vertically within a compact footprint. This nesting approach allows numerous instruments to be integrated into a space-efficient configuration, enabling the system to handle more assays while occupying minimal horizontal laboratory space.
Data Source
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AI summary
An automated laboratory system (10) includes a vertical shelving system (12) including a frame (16) and at least one shelf (20) movably mounted to the frame (16) such that the at least one shelf (20) is movable relative to the frame (16) between a docked position and an undocked position, the at least one shelf (20) being configured to carry at least one instrument (300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312). The system (10) also includes a robotic device (14) proximate the vertical shelving system (12) and being configured to access the at least one instrument (300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312) carried by the at least one shelf (20).