Tube tray for secondary tubes, secondary tube handling module, and method of handling secondary tubes in an automated processing system
Inventors
Chiu, Lawrence • Hitt, Reiner • Haag, Raphael • Caflisch, Erich • Lehner, Nicolas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12599909-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention describes a secondary tube tray for use in an automated processing system, the tray comprising a base module and a secondary tube insert. Furthermore, the present invention describes a secondary tube handling module of an automated processing system for automatically processing biological sample, and a method of handling secondary tubes for use in automatically processing biological sample in an automated processing system.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a secondary tube handling module for an automated processing system that automatically processes a biological sample, where the module is arranged inside a housing of the automated processing system. The module holds at least one secondary tube tray comprising a base module and a secondary tube insert, with the secondary tube insert inserted into the base module. The base module comprises a substantially closed bottom side with at least one discharge opening for discharging secondary tubes, and the secondary tube insert is a hollow body with at least one insert opening in its bottom side, the insert opening being configured to hold a plurality of secondary tubes in parallel.
To control discharging of the secondary tubes, the secondary tube insert comprises a blocking mechanism in the form of a blocking bar movably arranged on an inside of the secondary tube insert. The blocking mechanism blocks the at least one discharge opening in the bottom side of the base module when the blocking mechanism is not moved from a closed state to an open state. The blocking mechanism is adapted to be openable from outside of the base module by means of at least one blocking mechanism actuating member, where the tray and the actuating member are movable relative to each other to move the actuating member through the discharge opening and through the insert opening to engage the blocking mechanism.
The secondary tube handling module further comprises a separator for extraction of secondary tubes from the secondary tube insert, where the separator includes a tilting mechanism for tilting the secondary tube tray about a lateral axis. The disclosed module also includes buffer intermediate storage and a buffer sensor configured to detect an underrun of a predetermined buffer level for the received and discharged secondary tubes, with downstream components including a tube orientation sensor, a labeling component, and a barcode reader.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 broadly covers 3 inventive features: a tray structure with a base module discharge opening and a hollow secondary tube insert with an insert opening, a movable blocking mechanism in the form of a blocking bar that blocks and unblocks the discharge opening, and a separator that extracts tubes by tilting about a lateral axis while moving a blocking mechanism actuating member through aligned openings to engage the blocking mechanism.
Secondary tube tray with blocking bar controlled discharge opening
A secondary tube handling module adapted to hold at least one secondary tube tray comprising a base module and a secondary tube insert, wherein the base module comprises a substantially closed bottom side with at least one discharge opening for discharging secondary tubes, the secondary tube insert is a hollow body with at least one insert opening in its bottom side, and the secondary tube insert comprises a blocking mechanism in the form of a blocking bar movably arranged on an inside of the secondary tube insert, said blocking mechanism blocking the at least one discharge opening in the bottom side of the base module when the blocking mechanism is not moved from a closed state to an open state, wherein the blocking mechanism is adapted to be openable from outside of the base module.
Tilting-based separator about a lateral axis for tube extraction
A secondary tube handling module comprising a separator for extraction of secondary tubes from the secondary tube insert of the secondary tube tray, the separator comprising a tilting mechanism for tilting the secondary tube tray about a lateral axis.
Relative motion actuating member engaging blocking mechanism through aligned openings
A secondary tube handling module comprising at least one blocking mechanism actuating member for actuating the blocking mechanism to block and unblock the discharge opening in the bottom side of the base module; wherein the secondary tube tray and said blocking mechanism actuating member are movable relative to each other by means of said tilting mechanism to move the blocking mechanism actuating member through the discharge opening in the bottom side of the base module and through the insert opening in the bottom side of the secondary tube insert, to engage with the blocking mechanism.
The claim coverage centers on a blocking-controlled secondary tube tray, extraction via a tilting mechanism about a lateral axis, and a relative-motion blocking mechanism actuating member that moves through the discharge and insert openings to engage and open the blocking mechanism.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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