DOOR FOR A LABORATORY WORKSTATION

Abstract

A door for a laboratory workstation is disclosed. The laboratory workstation has a horizontally extending work surface for providing a working area. The door is movable in relation to the work surface in a vertical direction perpendicular to the work surface between a safety position, in which the door closes the working area for manual access of a user, an access position in which the working area is open for manual access of a user, and a loading position.

Claims

1. A door (1) for a laboratory workstation (2), said laboratory workstation (2) comprising a horizontally extending work surface (3) for providing a working area (4) thereon, wherein the door (1) is configured being movable in relation to the work surface (3) in a vertical direction perpendicular to the work surface (3) between a safety position (5), in which the door (1) closes the working area (4) for manual access of a user, an access position (7) in which the working area (4) is open for manual access of a user, and a loading position (6), characterized in that the door (1) comprises an access opening (8) configured for being reversibly changeable between a loading status or a closed status, for allowing or restricting a limited, manual access of a user to the working area (4), wherein in the safety position (5), the access opening (8) is in the closed status by being positioned by the door (1) below the work surface (3), and wherein in the loading position (6), the access opening (8) is aligned to the work surface (3) into the loading status for allowing limited access to the working area (4), wherein the position of the door (1) is under the control of a processing unit (9), said processing unit (9) being configured to control one or more automated process operations in the working area (4) or parts thereof in dependence of the position of the door (1).

2. The door (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing unit (9) is configured to allow one or more automated process operations in a part of the working area (4) which is not accessible through the access opening (8) by a user when the door (1) is moved into the loading position (6), and/or allow one or more automated process operation in the complete working area (4) when the door (1) is moved in the safety position (5), and/or restrict or inhibit one or more automated process operations in the working area (4) or in parts thereof when the door (1) is moved into the loading position (7) or into the access position (7).

3. The door (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one sensor (11) which is functionally connected to the processing unit (9), the sensor (11) being configured to monitor the position of the door (1).

4. The door (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises—for being locked in the safety position (5) and/or in the loading position (6)—in each case a locking mechanism (10) which is functionally connected to the processing unit (9).

5. The door (1) according to claim 4, wherein each locking mechanism (10) is functionally connected to at least one sensor (11).

6. The door (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the processing unit (9) is configured to: close a locking mechanism (10) for carrying out one or more automated process operations in the working area (4) or parts thereof; and/or keep a locking mechanism (10) locked when an automated process operation is carried out in the working area (4) or in parts thereof; and/or cause one or more automated process operations being carried out in the working area (4) or parts thereof in dependence of the status of the locking mechanism (10); and/or open a locking mechanism (1) in dependence of the status of one or more automated process operations which are carried out in the working area (4) or parts thereof; and/or keep a locking mechanism (10) open when no automated process operation is carried out in the working area (4) or parts thereof; and/or control the status of a locking mechanism (1); and/or stop one or more automated process operations which are carried out in the working area (4) or parts thereof when the position of the door (1) is changed or when the status of a locking mechanism is changed.

7. The door (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking mechanism (10) is selected from a group comprising a mechanical locking system, an electrical locking system, and a magnetic locking system, or a combination thereof.

8. The door (1) according to claim 1, being incorporated into a laboratory workstation (2) which comprises the processing unit (9), or which is configured being connectable to an external processing unit (9).

9. A laboratory workstation (2) comprising a horizontally extending work surface (3) for providing a working area (4) thereon, at least one robotic device (17) for carrying out one or more process operations in an automated manner, and a processing unit (9) configured for controlling one or more automated process operations, characterized in that the laboratory workstation (2) further comprises a door (1) according to claim 1, the door (1) being movable in relation to the work surface (3) in a vertical direction perpendicular to the work surface (3) between a safety position (5) in which the door (1) closes the working area (4) for manual access of a user, an access position (7) in which the working area (4) is open for manual access of a user, and a loading position (6), wherein the door (1) comprises an access opening (8) configured for being reversibly changeable between an open status, a loading status or a closed status, wherein in the safety position (5), the access opening (8) is in the closed status by being positioned by the door (1) below the work surface (3), and wherein in the loading position (6), the access opening (8) is aligned to the work surface (3) into the loading status for allowing limited access to the working area (4); and wherein the processing unit (9) of the laboratory workstation (2) is configured to control an activity of the at least one robotic device (17) for carrying out one or more automated process operations in the working area (4) or parts thereof in dependence of the position of the door (1).

10. The laboratory workstation (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the door (1) is a slide door (1) which is movable in a vertical direction along one or more guide rails (21) mounted on the laboratory workstation (2).

11. The laboratory workstation (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the door (1) and/or the laboratory workstation (2) comprises at least one sensor (11) which is functionally connected to the processing unit (9), and which is configured to monitor the position of the door (1) in relation to the work surface (3) of the laboratory workstation (2).

12. The laboratory workstation (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the door (1) and/or the laboratory workstation (2) comprises in each case at least one locking mechanism (10) for locking the door (1) on the laboratory workstation (2) in the safety position (5) and/or in the loading position (6) and/or in the access position (7), wherein each locking mechanism (10) being functionally connected to the processing unit (9).

13. The laboratory workstation (2) according to claim 9, comprising a loading area (19) on the work surface (3) which is manually accessible by a user through the access opening (8) when the access opening (8) is in the loading status, the loading area (19) comprising at least one carrier (20) which is movably fixed on the work surface (3), the carrier (20) being configured for accommodating one or more laboratory articles (21) and for being moved on the work surface (3) and towards the access opening (8) when the access opening (8) is in the loading status.

14. The laboratory workstation according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an appliance compartment (15) below the work surface (3) for accommodating one or more devices (18) or parts thereof which are required for carrying out an automated process operation.

15. A method of controlling a manual access to a working area (4) of a laboratory workstation (2), the method comprising the steps of: providing a laboratory workstation (2) which comprises: a horizontally extending work surface (3) for providing a working area (4) thereon, at least one robotic device (17) for carrying out one or more process operations in the working area (4) in an automated manner under the control of a processing unit (9), a door (1) according to claim 1 which is movable in a vertical direction perpendicular to the work surface (3) for allowing or restricting manual access to the working area (4) and which comprises an access opening (8), and a processing unit (9) configured to control one or more automated process operations in the working area or parts thereof in dependence of a position of the door (1); bringing the door (1) into a safety position (5), and thereby closing the working area (4) for manual access of a user, wherein the processing unit (9) controls that the door (1) is in the safety position (5), carrying out one or more process operations in the working area (4) in an automated manner using at least one robotic device (17) under the control of the processing unit (9), pausing the one or more process operations in the working area (4) or parts thereof and afterwards allowing the door (1) being moved into a loading position (6), each under the control of the processing unit (9), p1 moving the door (1) from the safety position (5) into the loading position (6) for allowing limited, manual access of a user to the working area (4) or parts thereof through the access opening (8), and controlling the door (1) being in the loading position (6) by the processing unit (9); and loading or unloading the work surface (3) through the access opening (8), while the one or more process operation is paused, and the door (1) is in the loading position (6) under the control of the processing unit (9).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that after loading or unloading the work surface (3), the method further comprises the step of: moving the door (1) into the safety position (6), and controlling the door (1) being in the safety position (5) under the control of the processing unit (9), and thereafter continuing the paused one or more process operation on the working area (4) under the control of the processing unit (9).

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the work surface (3) of the laboratory workstation (2) comprises a loading area (19) which is manually accessible by a user through the access opening (8) when the door (1) is in the loading position (5), wherein for loading or unloading the work surface (3), when the door (1) is in the loading position (6), process operations which are carried out in the loading area (19) are paused under the control of the processing unit (9), while one or more other process operations, which are carried out outside the loading area (19) in the working area (4) are continued, or all process operations which are carried out in the working area (4) are paused.

18. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the door (1) and/or the laboratory workstation (2) comprises a locking mechanism (10) for locking the door (1) in the safety position (5) and/or in the loading position (6) and/or in the access position (7), the locking mechanism being under the control of the processing unit (9), wherein the processing unit (9) controls one or more automated process operations in dependence of the status of the locking mechanism (10).

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism (10) is functionally connected to at least one sensor (11), and wherein the sensor (11) monitors the position of the door (1) in relation to the work surface (3) of the laboratory workstation (2) by monitoring the status of the associated locking mechanism (10).

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the processing unit (9) controls that a locking mechanism (10) for the door (1) remains locked as long as a robotic device (17) is moving in the working area (4), when the door (1) is locked in the safety position (5), and/or that the locking mechanism (10) of the door (1) remains locked as long as a robotic device (17) is moving in the working area (4) but outside the loading area (19), when the door (1) is locked in the loading position (6) or when the door (1) is locked in the safety position (5), and/or that a robotic device (17) of the laboratory device (2) does not move when the door (1) is moved into or locked in the access position (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0168] Embodiments of the current invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the figures. These are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. It shows

[0169] FIG. 1 a schematic overview drawing of the working area of a laboratory workstation, comprising a gripping mechanism and a pipetting head;

[0170] FIG. 2 a schematic overview drawing of a door with an access opening in a frontal view;

[0171] FIG. 3 a schematic overview drawing of a backside of a door with an access opening;

[0172] FIG. 4 a schematic overview drawing of a laboratory workstation comprising a door in a loading position and a transparent area, which allows a view onto a pipetting head of the laboratory workstation;

[0173] FIGS. 5A-5C perspective views of a laboratory workstation positioned on a bench, the laboratory workstation comprising a door with an access opening, with the door being in [0174] FIG. 5A moved into an access position, [0175] FIG. 5B moved into a safety position, and [0176] FIG. 5C moved into a loading position;

[0177] FIGS. 6A-6D schematic overview drawings of a door movable in relation to a work surface of a laboratory workstation in a vertical direction, the door being in [0178] FIG. 6A moved into a safety position, [0179] FIG. 6B moved into a loading position, [0180] FIG. 6C moved into an access position, [0181] FIG. 6D composed of two sliding door parts;

[0182] FIG. 7 a highly schematic sectional drawing of the door with two locking mechanism and sensors, shown in relation to a work surface of a laboratory workstation which comprises complementary parts of a locking mechanism and sensors;

[0183] FIG. 8 a schematic overview of possible method steps using the door according to the invention mounted on a laboratory workstation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0184] FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview drawing of an exemplary laboratory workstation 2 which may be used in connection with a door 1 of the invention. This laboratory workstation 2 is shown without a door 1 for illustrative purpose. The laboratory workstation 2 comprises a work surface 3, which is shown here exemplarily as a continuous tabletop. Multi-part surfaces are however possible, too. Above the work surface 3 is a working area 4. The work surface 3 indicates a two-dimensional surface onto which for example laboratory articles 23, for example container with samples, or other devices 18 for automated process operations may be placed on, while the working area 4 refers to the three-dimensional space above the work surface 3, in which one or more robotic device 17 move for carrying out one or more process operations. Devices 18 which are required for automated processing and which may be placed onto a work surface are for example shakers for microplates, incubators, microscopes, centrifuges, etc.

[0185] A user may have access to the work surface 3 and the working area 4 from the front side, which is the longitudinal side opposite to the guide rail 24 here. The access is controlled by a door, while the other sides of the work surface 3 are blocked for access, for example by housing components (not shown here).

[0186] The laboratory workstation 2 shown comprises two robotic devices 17, one is configured as a gripping mechanism (see the arm on the right side), and one is configured as a pipetting head (see the arm on the left side). The gripping mechanism comprises here a gripper with two gripping fingers, while the pipetting head comprises two pipettes in this case. One of the pipettes is shown to have a pipette tip attached (pipette closer to the guide), while the other pipette is shown without an attached pipette tip, revealing the cone-type end.

[0187] Each robotic device 17 is movable along an x-direction by means of a guide rail 24. In addition, the gripper of the gripping mechanism is movable also along an y-direction and a z-direction. Analogously, each of the pipettes of the pipetting head is movable along an y-direction and in a z-direction. In this configuration, a majority of the work surface 3 may be addressed by either a pipette or by the gripping mechanism. The presence of two robotic devices 17 leads to a certain restriction of the movability of each robotic device 17 on the guide rail 24 and correspondingly of their access capabilities of the work surface 3. A processing unit 9 is configured to control the movements of each of the robotic devices 17 for carrying out an automated process operation, but also for avoiding potential collisions of present robotic devices 17. As discussed herein, the same processing unit 9 may be used for additionally controlling the position of a door 1, and to integrate the control of the door 1 with the control of the movement of the robotic device(s) 17 and the implementation of process operations, though a separate but functionally connected processing unit 9 is possible as well.

[0188] FIG. 2 shows a schematic overview drawing of an embodiment of a door 1 with an access opening 8 according to the invention in a frontal view. The access opening 8 is arranged in the lower part of the door 1. The door 1 shown here is particularly suitable for closing a working area 4 of a laboratory workstation 2, for example one as shown in FIG. 1, and is movable in a vertical direction. The vertical direction corresponds here to the z-direction as indicated in FIG. 1, which is perpendicular to the work surface. The door is a sliding door and is movable for example in relation to a work surface 3 by a door rail system comprising door rails 21. Door rails 21 may be anticipated on the right and left sides of the door 1 shown in FIG. 2 and are shown explicitly in FIG. 3. The door 1 comprises at its lower side a grip rail 22. The processing unit 9 to which the locking mechanism 10 and the sensor 11 are functionally connected is not shown here.

[0189] The access opening 8 may divide the door 1 into a service section 13 and a protection section 14. The service section 13 of a length l1 and a height h1 corresponds to the lower section of the door 1 where the access opening 8 is arranged. This section allows a limited access of a user to the work surface 3 and/or the working area 4 even though the door 1 is not fully open, in that the access opening 8 is aligned to the work surface 3 accordingly in a loading position 6. The protection section 14 has a length l2 and a height h2 and indicates the area of the door 1 which essentially completely covers the side of a work surface 3 and the working area 4 thereon when the door 1 is in a safety position, so that no manual access of a user is possible. The door 1 comprises in the protection section 14 a transparent area 12, to that a user may nevertheless visually access the shielded working area 4 in the safety position 5.

[0190] FIG. 3 shows a schematic overview drawing of an embodiment of a door 1 with an access opening 8 according to the invention in a rear view. Also here, the door 1 comprises a transparent area 12 for allowing a visual access to the work surface 3 when the door 1 closes the working area 4 and the work surface 3. The door rails 21 by means of which the door 1 may be movably mounted onto a laboratory workstation 2 can be seen here on the right and on the left side.

[0191] A locking mechanism 10 can be seen at the lower side, which is in this embodiment a simple mechanical stop. The locking mechanism 10 here is arranged in combination with a sensor 11. The mechanical stop may provide a locking function to hold the door 1 in the desired position for example in combination with a movable bolt (not shown), which bars the way of the mechanical stop when the bolt is extended and the door 1 is moved. A processing unit 9 (not shown here) may control whether the bolt is extended or retracted, thereby controlling whether the door 1 is kept in a desired position or may be moved out or moved over that position.

[0192] An additional locking mechanism 10 which is coupled to a sensor 11 can be seen on the right side of the door 1. This locking mechanism 10 is shown to be shifted sideways to the mechanical stop at the bottom side. This has the advantage that this additional locking mechanism 10 does not interfere with e.g. the movable bolt. The additional locking mechanism 10 may interact with a separate counterpart instead (not shown), while the sensor 11 may indicate the status of this additional locking mechanism, for providing for example information to a processing unit 9 whether it is in a locking status or an open status.

[0193] FIG. 4 shown a door 1 according to the invention, which is integrated into a laboratory workstation 2, in this case into a liquid handling workstation. The door 1 is mounted to the liquid handling workstation and movable in a vertical direction along door rails 21. In FIG. 4, the door 1 is shown being in the loading position, so that through the access opening 8 of the door, a carrier 20 with laboratory articles 23 (tubes in this case) being loaded therein can be seen. The loading area 19 behind the door 1 is accessible by the access opening 8 and includes here parts of the work surface 3 and of the working area 4.

[0194] The door 1 is shown here for illustrative purposes being open in an area which may be covered by a transparent screen. By this, a robotic device 17, in this case a pipetting head with a pipette and an attached pipette tip can be seen, as well as the guide rail 24 onto which the pipetting head is movably mounted. An integrated processing unit 9 may coordinate the functioning of the liquid handing workstation with the integrated door 1.

[0195] Below the working area, the appliance compartment 15 can be seen. This compartment provides for example storage space for instruments or equipment which are required for the automated processing of samples, but which would unnecessarily use up space on the work surface 3 when stored there. For example, cooling units or pipette tip waste container may more adequately be stored outside the working area 4. A waste container box is visible in the appliance compartment 15, while other instruments or parts thereof are hidden here.

[0196] Schematically indicated is also a locking mechanism 10 at the lower side of the door 1, which may interact with a complementary locking mechanism 10 at the lower end of the liquid handling workstation. Both may form together one functional locking mechanism 10. A sensor 11 may be used for example to monitor whether the door is in the assigned position, or whether the locking mechanism is in an open or closed status, or both.

[0197] The laboratory workstation 2 comprises an integrated processing unit 9 which is not explicitly shown in this Figure.

[0198] Structures shown by dashed lines are present in a plane which is behind the visible front plane.

[0199] In FIGS. 5A to 5C, a door 1 comprising an access opening 8 is shown to be mounted onto a laboratory workstation 2 and moved in a vertical direction into three different positions. Each laboratory workstation 2 comprises an integrated processing unit 9 here, which is not explicitly shown

[0200] In FIG. 5A, the door 1 is moved into an access position 7. In this position, the work surface 3 is fully accessible by a user, for example for equipping the work surface 3 for a certain process operation or for exchanging equipment. In FIG. 5A, for example a pipetting head is shown being present as a robotic device 17. Accordingly, the laboratory workstation 2 is configured here as a liquid handling workstation. The pipetting head may move during an automated process operation through the working area 4, although in the access position, the movement of robotic devices 17 is stopped as a safeguard measurement.

[0201] On the work surface 3 positioned is a carrier 20 which comprises a multitude of laboratory articles 24, for example reaction tubes. In this case, the carrier 20 is positioned on the work surface 3 within a loading area 19, which remains accessible for a user via the access opening 8 when the door 1 closes the working area 4 in the loading position 6 (compare to FIG. 5C).

[0202] The laboratory workstation 2 comprises here below the work surface 3 an appliance compartment 15. The appliance compartment 15 may provide space for devices 18 or parts thereof which are required for carrying out an automated process operation in the working area 4 but shall be removed from the working area 4 for example due to lack of space or for keeping the working area 4 free for movements of the robotic device(s) 17, though such devices are not shown here in the appliance compartment 15. Shown here exemplarily is a shaft 26 of a vertical extension in the appliance compartment 15. The shaft 26 may comprise a drawer which may be pulled out and pushed in. Such a drawer may for example be used as a tablet for a waste bin for used laboratory articles 23 such as disposable pipette tips or microplates. It may be provided that the laboratory workstation 2 comprises more of such shafts 26, or that such a shaft 26 is in a different position in the appliance compartment 15, for example aligned with the access opening 8 when the door 1 is moved into the safety position 5 shown in FIG. 5B. In such an embodiment of the appliance compartment 15, the shaft 26 would be accessible even when the working area 4 is closed for manual access of a user.

[0203] The laboratory workstation 2 shown in the FIGS. 5A to 5C further comprises a processing unit 9 which is configured to control the automated process operations as well as the position of the door 1, and hereby the access opening 8 as well, for controlling the user access in dependence of possible movements of a robotic device 17.

[0204] In FIG. 5B, the door 1 is moved into the safety position 5. In this position, the door 1 fully covers the side of the working area 4 which is intended for user access, and a manual access of the work surface 3 and the working area 4 is fully inhibited by the door 1, in that the access opening 8 is moved below the work surface 3 and the working area 4. In this embodiment of FIG. 5B, the access opening 4 is positioned in front of a cover of the appliance compartment 15, so that the access opening 8 faces the cover.

[0205] With the door 1 being in this safety position 5, automated process operations may be carried out by one or more robotic devices 17 in the working area 4 without the risk of interferences by a user. Typically, the position of the door 1 is under the control of a processing unit 9, which can be the same or functionally connected with the processing unit 9 of the laboratory workstation 2. In this way, the robotic device(s) 17 may be stopped for example when the door 1 is not any more in the safety position 5, or when a user enters a respective request to get access to the loading area by entering a corresponding command.

[0206] In FIG. 5C, the door 1 is moved into the loading position 6, in which parts of the working area 4 are covered by the door 1, but in which the access opening 8 opens towards the working area 4, thereby allowing a locally restricted access for a user to the working area 4 and/or the work surface 3. In FIG. 5C, the access opening 8 is aligned to the work surface 3 so that the lower edge of the access opening 8 is about at the same height as the work surface 3. The lower end of the door 1 below the access opening 8 extends further towards the appliance compartment 15, so that the remaining work surface 3 is kept closed for manual access. In this way, the access opening 8 essentially opens completely towards the working area 4. The size of the access opening 8 defines the extend of local, manual access.

[0207] Through the access opening 8, a carrier 20 for carrying laboratory articles 23 is visible. Though a user has no access to the remaining working area 4, manual access is possible through the access opening 8 to the loading area 19. A user may therefore take out equipment from the work surface 3 or insert equipment to an area 19 which is defined by the dimensions of the access opening 8. For the ease of access, it may be provided that certain equipment's are for example placed on carrier 20 which are configured as being slidable on the work surface 3 on a defined path. In this way, a user does not need to lift and put down a carrier but may easily let the carrier slide on the work surface out of the access opening and back again.

[0208] It may be provided that more than one access opening 8 is present in the door 1 for allowing access of a user to different, defined compartments of the work surface 3 and/or the working area 4. This may however be dependent of the size of the work surface 3.

[0209] The shaft 26 is accessible in this embodiment when the door 1 is in the loading position 6. It may be provided in other embodiments that more shafts are present in the appliance compartment 15 or that the storage space in the applicant compartment 15 is organized in a deviating manner; for example, the shaft 26 is a simple opening with an access to the work surface 3.

[0210] For ensuring that the door 1 is kept in the desired position, it is particularly suitable to provide door locks which are controlled by the processing unit 9, for example by the aid of one or more sensors 11, as will be shown later.

[0211] In FIGS. 6A to 6D, highly schematic overview drawings are shown, illustrating in particular the position of a door 1 in relation to the work surface 3 of a laboratory workstation 2. The door 1 as well as the access opening 8 is shown in bold lines, the laboratory workstation 2 in dashed lines, with a continuous work surface 3. Potentially present robotic devices 1 are not indicated here for overview reasons. The door 1 is movable in a vertical direction and into different positions, the movement direction being indicated by vertical arrows. The safety position 5, the loading position 6, and the access position 7 are indicated exemplarily in FIG. 6C for a better overview, with the horizontal arrows indicating the approximate position of the lower edge of the door 1.

[0212] In FIG. 6A the door 1 is moved into a safety position 5, in which the working area 4 is essentially fully closed for manual access of a user by the door 1. The access opening 8 is positioned below the work surface 3. The door 1 is movable only upwardly, as in the safety position 5, the door 1 is moved down to the lowest possible point. In the embodiment shown, the door 1 is movable along two door rails 21, each being positioned on one side of the working area 4 and on the laboratory workstation 2. Complementary door rails 21 may be foreseen on the door 1 for allowing movability. The door rails 21 here are shown to extend above the laboratory workstation 2, which might be necessary for providing additional stability.

[0213] A processing unit 9 is functionally connected to the laboratory workstation 2 and the door 1 for coordinating one or more automated process operations and the door 1 interactively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, the laboratory workstation 2 does not comprise an appliance compartment 15.

[0214] In FIG. 6B, the door 1 is moved into the loading position 6, in which most parts of the working area 4 are still closed by the door 1. However, in the loading position 6, the access opening 8 is aligned to the work surface 3, thereby allowing a limited access for a user through the access opening 8 to the work surface and the working area 4. The processing unit 9 may be configured to restrict the movement of potentially present robotic devices 17 to an area on the work surface 3 which is not accessible through the access opening 8, as a safeguard measurement. In this way, an ongoing automated process operation does not necessarily need to be stopped when the equipment on the work surface 3 needs to be changed but may be continued in a controlled manner in an area which may not be influenced by the access of a user, even when the door is moved out of the safety position.

[0215] In FIG. C, the door 1 is moved into the access position 7, in which essentially the complete working area 4 is accessible by a user. In this position, the door 1 is moved up to a height where it does not disturb the manual access of a user, and the presence of the access opening 8 and its position is not of relevance here.

[0216] At the height of the safety position 5, the loading position 6, and the access position 7, the laboratory workstation 2 here comprises in each case a locking mechanism 10, and in this exemplary embodiment in each case with a sensor 11. By using the locking mechanism 10, the door 1 may be locked in one of the desired positions 5,6,7. In FIG. 6C, the door 1 is locked in the access position 7. The sensor 11 monitors the status of the locking mechanism at the access position 7 and gives a corresponding feedback to the processing unit 9. In the case when the locking mechanism is not in a closed status and the position of the door 1 is not any more guaranteed, it may be provided that the processing unit 9 triggers a predefined safety measurement. Such safety measurements may be of particular importance when the loading position 6 and/or the safety position 5 are not guaranteed.

[0217] The laboratory workstation 2 shown in FIG. 6C comprises an appliance compartment 15, arranged below the work surface 3. In the appliance compartment 15 embedded is an open compartment which provides an easily accessible storage space, for example for a waste box (see FIG. 4). The open compartment may comprise for example a drawer for simplifying the access. A lower appliance compartment 15 will not be covered by the door 1 when the door 1 is in the access position 7. When the door 1 is in the loading position 6, the appliance compartment 15 may be covered by the door 1, fully or partly, when the door 1 has the corresponding dimensions. The door will cover the appliance compartment 15 when being moved and/or locked in the safety position 5 at least partly. In the latter case, at least the open compartment in the appliance compartment 15 may be accessible via the access opening 8 when the access opening is arranged in the door accordingly (compare to FIG. 6D).

[0218] In FIG. 6D, the door 1 is shown in an embodiment comprising two sliding door parts. Exemplarily, each of the door parts is connected to a separate processing unit 9, which however are functionally connected for coordinated operation. The door part on the left side comprises the access opening 8, while the door part on the right side is without such an access opening 8. The left door part is moved into the safety position 5, so that the movement of one or more robotic devices 17 (not shown) may be possible in the working area 4 behind the left door part. Due to the alignment of the shaft 26 with the access opening 8 in this position, access to the shaft 26 is possible. The right door part is moved into the access position 7, in which the user may have full access to the working area 4 in the corresponding area, for example for controlling or handling the equipment in that part of the working area 4.

[0219] FIG. 7 shows a highly schematic sectional drawing of the door plus parts of a laboratory workstation 2 in a longitudinal sectional view with two locking mechanisms 10′, 10″ and two corresponding sensors 11′, 11″′, shown in relation to a work surface 3 of a laboratory workstation 2. The laboratory workstation 2comprises complementary parts of a locking mechanism 10′, 10″ and sensors 11′, 11″′. The door 1 is shown being essentially moved into the safety position 5. The door 1 is further shown movable in a vertical direction, which is perpendicular to the work surface, indicated by arrows. The dashed arrow hereby indicates the direction of movement after the door 1 has been moved out of the safety position 5, because in this embodiment, the door 1 has reached the lowest possible point at the safety position 5.

[0220] The laboratory workstation 2 comprises a robotic device 17 configured as a pipetting head with one pipette and a pipette tip (23) attached. The pipetting head is mounted on a guide rail 24 for being moved under the control of a processing unit 9. The laboratory workstation 2 is thus configured as a liquid handling workstation here.

[0221] As mentioned above, the term sensor 11 may describe herein a sensor unit comprising a probe (or signal detector) and a trigger which comprises or releases a signal which is detectable by the probe. It may be provided in this context, when speaking of the door comprising a sensor, the door may comprise either the probe while the device onto which the door is mounted comprises the trigger, or vice versa, the door comprises the trigger while the device onto which the door is mounted comprises the probe. It may particularly be provided that the sensor monitors the position of the door in relation to a work surface or a working area onto which a robotic device may move.

[0222] The laboratory workstation 2 and the door 1 are equipped here with various sensors 11, 11′, 11″′, 11″″, which are partly associated with a locking mechanism 10′, 10″, or associated with other functions (see e.g. sensor 11″″).

[0223] A carrier 20 is placed onto the work surface 3 and carries exemplarily a reagent tube 23. The carrier 20 is movable on the work surface, which is indicated by the double arrow. A handle on the carrier may simplify the transport by a user. A part of a sensor unit 11 ″″ is mounted on the work surface 3, while the carrier 20 may comprise the complementary sensor part 11″″. By means of this sensor unit 11″″, the processing unit 9 is able to recognize whether the carrier 20 has been moved towards the door 1 (the access opening 8) for loading or unloading.

[0224] The door 1 comprises at the lower end a handle which extends on the right side of the door 1. The door 1 further comprises at the lower end a locking mechanism 10″, which is arranged on the door 1 with an offset to the sectional plane. The locking mechanism 10″ is a stopper here, which protrudes from the door 1 towards the inner side of the laboratory workstation 2. A complementary locking mechanism part 10″ is mounted below the work surface 3, for interacting with the stopper. This complementary part 10″ is configured here as an extendable and retractable bolt, indicated by the arrows. When the bolt is moved towards the door 1 (extended) it blocks the passage of the stopper when the door 1 is moved up. As long as the bolt is kept extended, a passage of the door 1 is blocked and the door 1 may not be moved further upwardly. Thus, the bolt rather functions to block the movement of the door 1 into one direction rather that to fix the door 1 at the position. In the shown embodiment, the door 1 is kept by the locking mechanism 10″ at the loading position 6. A sensor 11 monitors the position of the bolt and provides the information to the processing unit 9 for controlling the position of the bolt (dashed line towards the processing unit 9). It is possible that for example by an additional grating in the housing or in the door rails 21, the holding of the door 1 is further secured.

[0225] The door 1 is shown in FIG. 7 in the safety position 5. For holding the door 1 in the safety position, the door comprises a locking mechanism part 10′ which interacts with a complementary locking mechanism part 10′ of the laboratory workstation 2 to form a functional locking unit for locking the door 1 in the safety position 5. The locking mechanism part 10′ on the door 1 is arranged on the trapezoidal protrusion. A locking of the two locking mechanism parts 10′, and thereby a locking of the door 1 in the safety position 5, is possible when both parts are moved sufficiently close to each other.

[0226] The locking of the door 1 to the locking mechanism part 10′ at the safety position 5 may be triggered by a sensor 11′ or the interaction of the respective sensor unit parts 11′. A probe recognized the door 1 being in the safety position 5 by recognizing the signal of the trigger, when the probe and the trigger have been moved into a close contact. The probe informs the processing unit 9 that the door 1 has reached the safety position 5, and the processing unit 9 in turn may cause the locking mechanism part 10′ to interact and thereby locking the door 1 in the safety position 5.

[0227] In the embodiment shown here, the processing unit 9 may further recognize when the door 1 is in the access position 7 via the sensor unit 11″′.

[0228] Possible sensors 11 may be, for example, combinations of a Hall sensor and a magnet, a light barrier and a flag, a capacitance proximity sensor, or other sensor types.

[0229] In FIG. 8, a schematic overview of possible method steps using the door according to the invention mounted on a laboratory workstation is shown. A laboratory workstation 2 is provided, which comprises a work surface 3 with a working area 4 thereon, at least one robotic device 17 movable in the working area 4, and a door 1 movable in relation to the work surface 3. The door 1 comprises an access opening 8. The door 1 is movable into different positions, for allowing or restricting a manual access of a user to the work surface 3 and the working area 4 through the access opening 8. The laboratory workstation 2 further comprises a processing unit 9, with which movements of the robotic device in the working area 4 for carrying out process operations in an automated manner are controlled, consideration of the position of the door and the access possibility for a user to the working area 4.

[0230] The working area 4 is closed for manual access of a user, by bringing the door 1 into a safety position. In this position, the access opening is not facing the working area 4. Typically, the user as already equipped the work surface 3, for example with the samples, reagents, microplates, storage boxes for disposable pipette tips, etc.

[0231] When the door 1 is moved into the safety position 5, one or more process operations may be carried out in the working area 4, without the risk of interferences by a user. It may be necessary that a user informs the processing unit 9 that he has moved the door 1 into the safety position, and that the desired process may be started. This may for example be done by pressing a button on a touchscreen or by entering a respective command into a computer which comprises or is functionally connected to the processing unit 9. It is possible that after such a command or input, the software first causes that the door 1 is locked by a locking mechanism 10 in the safety position 5, and only after the locking the process operations are started effectively. The software may control the locking via sensors, as described herein.

[0232] In case the user needs access to the working area 4 or the work surface 3 during the running of the desired process, the user typically informs the processing unit 9 accordingly, for adapting the movements of the robotic device(s) 17 e.g. under safety aspects. For example, one or more process operations may be paused when they require the movement of a robotic device 17 in the loading area 19, that is in the area which would be manually accessible by a user when the door 1 is moved into the loading position 6. Certain operations may be finished to not risk the complete process being void. It may be defined however that such process operations which require movement of a robotic device (17) outside the loading area 19 continue.

[0233] It may be possible that the processing unit 9 needs to unlock the door 1 from the safety position prior to the door 1 being movable out of the safety position 5. The processing unit 9 may here trigger to open the respective locking mechanism 10, for example by using sensors for monitoring the status of that locking mechanism 10. When the required conditions are met, the door 1 may be moved into the loading position 6.

[0234] It is possible that for example upon opening the locking mechanism 10 of the safety position 5, a further locking mechanism 10 of the loading position 6 is activated. Such a mutual coordination may be under the control of the processing unit 9.

[0235] With the door 1 being moved or even locked into the loading position, a user may then for example remove items from the work surface 3 or load additional items, or correct a position of previously placed items while any process operation which require the movement of a robotic device 17 in the loading area 19 is paused. Depending on the process which shall be carried out, other operations involving the movement of a robotic device 17 outside the loading area 19 may continue. Exemplarily, a user may want to load additional samples, for example emergency samples which have arrived only after the starting of the desired process, or reagents which are required for the process need to be refilled, or storage boxes for pipette tips need to be provided.

[0236] After having loaded or unloaded the work surface 3, the user moves the door 1 back into the safety position 5 for letting the process operation being continued. It may be possible that the locking mechanism 10 at the loading position 6 selectively allows the movement of the door 1 downwardly, while blocking an upward movement of the door 1 (which would allow broader manual access of the user to the working area, resulting in potentially dangerous interference of a user with a moving robotic device 17). Via a sensor 11, the processing unit 9 however recognized as soon as the door as reached the safety position 5 and causes the locking mechanism at the safety position 5 locking the door 1 there.

[0237] Depending on the situation, the process operation may be continued as soon as the is moved (and locked, respectively) in the safety position, or the process operation may be stopped.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0238] 1 door [0239] 2 laboratory workstation [0240] 3 work surface processes [0241] 4 working area [0242] 5 safety position [0243] 6 loading position [0244] 7 access position [0245] 8 access opening [0246] 9 processing unit [0247] 10 locking mechanism [0248] 11 sensor [0249] 12 transparent area [0250] 13 service section [0251] 14 protection section [0252] 15 appliance compartment [0253] 17 robotic device [0254] 18 device for automated [0255] 19 loading area [0256] 20 carrier [0257] 21 door rail [0258] 22 grip rail [0259] 23 laboratory article [0260] 24 guide rail for robotic device(s) [0261] 26 shaft [0262] h1 height of the service section [0263] h2 height of the protection section [0264] I1 length of the service section [0265] I2 length of the protection section