The present disclosure describes automated systems and methods for handling objects, such as culture plates or dishes. For example, in one embodiment, the present disclosure describes an automated stacker and de-stacker comprising a clamping mechanism, a lift pad, a pair of pins, and a cabinet. A stack of culture plates may be stored in the cabinet. During a stacking operation, the pair of pins may be raised to stop a culture plate traveling along a conveyor track. Once stopped, the culture plate may be raised above the conveyor track by the lift pad and clamped by the clamping mechanism. During a de-stacking operation, the clamping mechanism may be opened, and the culture plate may be lowered onto the conveyor track by the lift pad.

The present invention relates to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system which can perform analysis of various biological samples, and more particularly to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system in which a plurality of decks for respectively accommodating biological samples are put in a deck storing/transferring device, whereby it is possible to automatically analyze an amount or existence of a target substance containing a target nucleic acid in the biologic sample, such as a particular gene, a particular, a particular pathogenic bacterium and a particular protein, by amplifying the target nucleic acid purified by some processes of purification, purification after culture, or purification after reaction of the target substance contained in the biological sample and then checking an amount of the amplified target nucleic acid.

An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level. A controller operates the mechanisms.

A smear preparing apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes: a first transporter that transports a storage tool in a first direction, the storage tool capable of holding microscope slides side by side in the first direction; a slide transfer unit that transfers a microscope slide having a stained sample to the storage tool transported by the first transporter; and a second transporter that is adjacent to the first transporter and that transports the storage tool housing the microscope slide transferred by the slide transfer unit, in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Automated analyzer (2000) comprising a housing (2010, 3010), a robotic arm comprising an end effector (2360), the end effector (2360) comprising a body (2320) rotatably connected to an articulating arm and first (2363a) and second fingers (2363b) coupled to the body (2362) and being moveable relative to each other in a first direction, each of the fingers (2363a, b) having an engagement feature (2361) projecting inwardly from each of the first and second fingers (2363a, b) and toward the other of the first and second fingers (2363a, b). The automated analyzer (2000) further comprises a shuttle platform (2030) for receiving a shuttle (2030) carrying sample containers (03), the containers carrying sample (03) to be evaluated by the analyzer (2000) and the shuttle platform (2030) comprising a jaw assembly that engages the bottom portion of the sample containers when the jaw assembly is in the closed position.

A digital slide scanning apparatus slide rack carousel allows continuous loading and unloading of slide racks into the carousel while the digital slide scanning apparatus is simultaneously digitizing glass slides. The slide rack carousel includes a base having an interior portion of its upper surface at an angle. The slide rack carousel also includes plural rack spacers extending upward from the base and adjacent rack spacers define a rack slot. Each rack spacer also includes a rack stopper on each side such that adjacent rack spacers have rack stoppers facing each other. The rack stoppers prevent a slide rack from moving further toward the center of the carousel than desired.

An automatic filter changer that automatically inserts and removes a filter from a fluidic path. Filters are introduced into the automatic filter changer in stacks. The lead filter and each stack is removed from its respective stack one by one by a filter separator. The separated filters are deposited onto a shuttle plate which moves the filters into their respective fluidic paths. Fluid couplers connect to each filter to complete their respective fluidic paths and allow fluids to be filtered before sampling. Once collection of the samples is complete, the filters are removed from the fluidic path and discarded or saved for reuse. The shuttle path is returned to its original position to receive new filters to repeat the process again. A graphic user interface is provided to allow the user to program a specific set of instructions to automate the entire process.

A storage arrangement (1) has a chamber (3). Several Dewar flasks (5) are arranged in the chamber (3) and above them a picking device (8). The picking device has at least one cassette lift (60), with which storage cassettes (20) can be removed from above from the Dewar flasks (5). This arrangement is suitable for storing laboratory objects even at very low temperatures. Each storage cassette (20) is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal is bent such that it forms the side walls (30), the back wall (32), the top part (34) and the base part (38) of the storage cassette (20), as well as angles (40, 42) to accommodate the laboratory objects.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and methods for archiving and/or retrieving specimens. Embodiments of the system of the present invention include a movement mechanism, an archival structure, and a software program. Embodiments of the device are configured to acquire a specimen, transport the specimen to a unique location in the archival structure, and store information regarding specimen identification and storage location.

A plate changer is provided with a plate storage and a transport mechanism. The plate storage is provided with an installation window portion and a transport window portion arranged to face to each other. The plate storage is further provided with a plate stopper at the transport window portion. The plate stopper stops the sample plate by being arranged at an interfering position where the plate stopper comes into contact with a transport window portion-side end face of the sample plate when the sample plate inserted from the installation window portion has reached a predetermined position in the one direction. The the plate stopper is configured to be arranged at a non-interfering position where the plate stopper does not interfere with the transport mechanism and the sample plate when the sample plate on the plate installation stand is taken out from the transport window portion by the gripping portion.