A laboratory system for a laboratory automation system is presented. The laboratory system comprises a sample container carrier. The sample container carrier is configured to carry a laboratory sample container and comprises a removal detector. The removal detector is configured to interact with the laboratory sample container to detect a removal of the carried laboratory sample container from the sample container carrier. Furthermore, the laboratory system is configured to determine based on the detected removal that a before valid logic assignment of the sample container carrier to the carried laboratory sample container is invalid.

Techniques for conveyor systems that integrate robotic smart carrier nests whose configurations are dynamically changed based on product geometry are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a modular nest configured to hold product during assembly. The modular nest includes a first actuator comprising a first pair of gripping arms that open and close in a first direction based on a first signal. The modular nest also includes a second actuator comprising a second pair of gripping arms that open and close in a second direction based on a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are based on a geometry of the product. Further, the first direction and the second direction are different directions.

Provided is a raising and lowering apparatus which enables achievement of a design that enables a reduction in height of a stage in a raising and lowering direction while reducing the buckling of a push chain. The raising and lowering apparatus includes a push chain (10), a stage (12) , a guide (14), and a sprocket (16). The push chain has a first straight rod part (10A) that extends along a first direction (D1), a second straight rod part (10B) that extends along a second direction (D2), and a first bent part (10C) that is provided between the first straight rod part and the second straight rod part. The stage is formed on the first straight rod part and is raised and lowered along the first direction. The sprocket engages with a push chain on a side closer to the second straight rod part than to the first bent part.

A system for transporting a sample in a clinical analysis system includes a sample container holding the sample, a ferromagnetic base connected to a bottom portion of the sample container, and a puck. The puck is used for transporting the sample container in the clinical analysis system. The puck comprises an embedded magnet for securing the sample container to the puck using the ferromagnetic base.

A container assembly processing system is disclosed that includes a container lifting assembly for lifting a container vertically from a carrier on a conveyor system.

A vacuum holder for articles, a combination of a vacuum holder and an article, a system for holding and conveying articles, and a method for holding and conveying articles are disclosed. The vacuum holder includes a main body having a surface and an air passageway leading to the surface, and a valve joined to the main body and in fluid communication with the air passageway. The vacuum holder includes an extensible skirt gasket with an opening therein. An article can be placed adjacent to the surface of the main body, and a vacuum can be drawn through the air passageway to hold the article to the vacuum holder. The valve maintains the vacuum between the article and the vacuum holder without being connected to a vacuum source, until it is desired to release the article from the vacuum holder.

A method and a device for transporting and driving components and tools, such as rotors and stators for manufacture, includes a component carrier with at least two chain sprockets rigidly connected to the component carrier. The chain sprockets engage four driven chains to move, rotate and swivel or rotated to a limited extent the component carrier. With the upper chain and lower chain moving at the same speed and in opposite directions of movement, the component carrier rotates on the spot, with the two chains moving at the same speed and in the same direction of movement, the component carrier moves without rotation at the chain speed in the direction of movement, and with the chains moving at different speeds and in the same or different directions of movement, a plurality of combinations of direction of rotation, direction of movement, transport speed and rotational speed can be achieved.

An embodiment of the disclosure is a rack adapted to engage a rack handler. The rack includes a rack body. The rack body has a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a receptacle that extends from the top toward the bottom. The receptacle is sized to receive the sample collection unit. The rack body has a first interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top, and a second interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top. The second interior surface is opposite to the first interior surface so as to at least partially define a slot along the bottom. The rack body also includes an interference groove in the slot along at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface. The slot and the interference groove are sized to engage a portion of the rack handler.

A system for part transfer and transport, the system including: a first conveyor system for transporting a plurality of trays containing a two-dimensional grid of parts; a second conveyor system for transporting the parts to a predetermined destination in a linear arrangement; and a selection apparatus for transferring a linear array of parts selected from the grid of the first conveyor system to the linear arrangement of the second conveyor system, the selection apparatus comprising: a pick and place apparatus which may be cam driven for moving the parts; and a feed screw defining a plurality of singulated part spaces separated by a part pitch along the second conveyor to facilitate insertion of the linear array of parts into the linear arrangement.

Provided are a specimen transport device and a specimen transport carrier capable of preventing shake of a specimen as compared with related art without limiting a transport path in electromagnetic transport. A specimen carrier 100 includes two or more gripping portions 101 configured to support specimen containers 150 having different diameters from different directions, and a transport surface 201 on which the specimen carrier 100 is to slide. The specimen carrier 100 includes a direction adjustment unit configured to adjust a traveling direction of the specimen carrier 100 when the specimen carrier 100 slides on a surface of the transport surface 201, such that a direction of a force with which one of the two or more gripping portions 101 grips the specimen container 150 is opposite to the traveling direction of the specimen carrier 100.