Patent ID: 11927597
Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 13:
14. A method for operating a laboratory sample vessel distribution system, the system comprising a cabinet having an interior space covered by cabinet walls, a plurality of sample vessel carriers having a plurality of support mounts each configured to detachably receive a sample vessel, a cabinet drawer configured to receive at least one sample vessel carrier from the plurality of sample vessel carriers, the cabinet drawer being locatable in different positions selected from the following a closed position, in which a drawer opening assigned to the cabinet drawer is closed by a front panel of the cabinet drawer, an opened position, in which the drawer opening is open at least partially, thereby, giving a user access to the interior space of the cabinet through the drawer opening, and a fully opened position, in which the drawer opening is closed by a back panel of the cabinet drawer, and an actuator provided in the interior space and configured to handle at least one of the sample vessels and the sample vessel carriers by moving the sample vessels and the sample vessel carriers between different locations, the method comprising:
applying, by an actuator driver, a first mode of operation, thereby, moving the actuator with a first speed of movement;
applying, by the actuator driver, a second mode of operation, thereby, moving the actuator with a second speed of movement, the second speed of movement being a reduced speed of movement compared to the first speed of movement;
detecting, by a sensor device assigned to the cabinet drawer, a present drawer position of the cabinet drawer, the present drawer position being selected from the closed position, and the opened position of the cabinet drawer;
providing, by the sensor device, drawer position signals indicative of the present position of the cabinet drawer;
receiving the position signals by a control device connected to the sensor device and the actuator driver; and
providing, by the control device in response to the drawer position signals, control signals to the actuator driver instructing the actuator driver to apply one of the first mode of operation, if the drawer position signals indicate the closed position, and the second mode of operation, if the drawer position signals indicate the opened position.