Certain configurations described herein are directed to autosamplers. In some instances, the autosampler may include a support comprising a body configured to receive two or more articles at separate sites of the body. The autosampler may also include a first motor coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support in an x-y plane, and a second motor configured to move the support in a z-direction to load one of the at least two articles at the separate sites in the body of the support. An encoder may also be used with the autosampler if desired.

An automated analyzer includes a container installation portion in which a container, such as a reagent container, has a protrusion and an openable and closable lid. A lid opening and closing mechanism opens and closes the lid and includes an arm portion having an arm and a horizontal driving portion which moves the arm in a first horizontal direction. The arm includes a protrusion contacting portion that includes a first surface having an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees when the horizontal surface is set as 0 degrees. The lid opening and closing mechanism portion opens the lid by moving the arm in the first horizontal direction, contacting the lid protrusion on the first surface of the protrusion contacting portion, and then moving the lid protrusion along a shape of the first surface in a vertical direction, until the lid is opened.

Provided is an automatic analysis device that enables a reagent to be reliably loaded in and loaded out within a stipulated amount of time, even during analysis and without stopping the analysis, and that enables a reagent to be exchanged without causing a long wait for the operator. Provided is the automatic analysis device that comprises the following: a reagent cooling box that cools and holds a plurality of reagent containers, and that accommodates therein a reagent holder for movably holding the reagent containers which are inside the reagent cooling box and a reagent loader for loading the reagent containers into and out of the reagent cooling box by moving in a vertical direction with respect to the reagent cooling box; a reagent cooling box cover that covers the upper surface of the reagent cooling box and that has an opening through which the reagent loader can pass; an instruction means that provides instructions for the movement of the reagent loader; and a control device that includes, within the time of one cycle, a first time slot in which an operation for analysis is carried out and a second time slot in which an operation for the loading in or out of the reagent containers is carried out, and that executes control so that the reagent loader is not moved if the driving of the reagent loader was instructed by the instruction means in the second time slot.

Apparatus to neutralize static electricity present on the surface of containers (100; 10) and/or of nests (200; 300) comprising a plurality of seatings (212; 312) according to a positioning matrix (M1) and able to receive, resting on them, an ordered group of said containers (100; 100), wherein the apparatus comprises an extraction member (15) configured to engage at least one part of said ordered group of containers (100; 100), in order to perform at least one relative lifting movement with respect to the nest (200; 300) so as to at least partly extract the containers (100; 100) engaged from the respective seatings (212; 312), and at least one ionizing device (19) configured to be relatively mobile with respect to the extracted containers and/or with respect to the nest (200; 300), while said group of containers (100; 100) extracted is in said raised condition, along a path that develops in the proximity of the containers (100; 100) extracted and/or in the proximity of said nest (200; 300), so as to ionize the surrounding space and neutralize static electricity present on the surface of the containers (100; 100) in the raised condition and/or of the nest (200; 300).

Disclosed herein is a bench-top time of flight mass spectrometer. In embodiments, there is provided a solvent bottle mounting assembly configured so that a user can press a solvent bottle onto the solvent bottle mounting assembly in order to mount the solvent bottle to the mass spectrometer. Other embodiments relate to a vacuum arrangement comprising first and second vacuum chambers with respective first and second vacuum pumps wherein a backing line for the second vacuum pump is connected to the first vacuum chamber such that the second vacuum pump is backed to the first vacuum chamber. Also disclosed in a method of manufacturing a lens plate or electrode wherein a substrate is chemically etched to reduce a sharp cusp to provide a smoother edge profile.

Methods of calibrating a position of a component using onboard crush and crash sensors. The method includes providing the robot with gripper and crush and crash sensors, providing a calibration tool coupled to the gripper, and providing a component including a recess and crush zone. The method includes moving the gripper in a first Controller direction to sense contact between the calibration tool and crush zone, and recording the contact position. Likewise, the gripper is moved to insert the tool into the recess, followed by moving the gripper in second directions and sensing contact between the tool and recess, and moving the gripper in third directions and sensing contact between the tool and recess. Contact positions are recorded and processed to determine a surface location in the first direction and physical center of the recess. Robot calibration apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Systems and methods for refrigerated storage of controls and calibrators utilize a refrigerant storage assembly having an insulated housing and door assembly, thermoelectric coolers, and the refrigerated base assembly having a metal plate thermally coupled to coolers, one or more sensors, and a plurality of receptacles to receive fluid tubes. Refrigerated storage provides a refrigerated environment suitable for multi-day storage of control and calibrator fluids.

A sample vessel is picked up from a sample carrier with a gripping device including first and second gripping sections. The first and second gripping sections grip the sample vessel from first and second sides. First and second holders for the sample vessel are provided, as is a first tool for moving the sample vessel along a stroke movement path. In the method, the first and second gripping sections are positioned on first and second sides of the sample vessel and the first tool engages with the sample vessel; the sample vessel is moved along the stroke movement path; the sample vessel is picked up in the second holder; the first and second gripping sections are repositioned in a lateral direction orthogonal to the stroke movement path such that the sample vessel is arranged in a free area not occupied by the sample carrier.

Methods of operating a gripper are provided. The methods include providing a robot including the gripper, the gripper moveable by the robot and including gripper fingers, providing a sample rack including receptacles accessible by the gripper, at least some of the receptacles adapted to contain specimen containers, providing data, obtained by imaging, regarding the sample rack and the specimen containers therein, and determining, based on the data, an accessible target receptacle for one of a pick operation or a place operation. Apparatus and systems configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

An automated labware marking system that includes a platform. The platform includes at least one slot for receiving a labware. The labware includes a rack and a plurality of labware containers. The rack further includes a plurality of cavities for receiving the plurality of labware containers. The automated labware marking system includes a marking device for marking the labware. A first sensor detects a marking area on the labware for marking. A second sensor is configured to take information of each labware container before the labware container is marked by the marking device. A manipulator moves at least one labware container from the rack to a labware holding device and places the at least one labware container in a position suitable for marking by the marking device.