Patent ID: 9671418
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B65G,E21B,G01N,Y10T

Claim:
1. An automation system for use with in vitro diagnostics comprising: a track configured to provide one or more paths; a plurality of payload carriers comprising a plurality of payload carrier types, one or more of the plurality of payload carrier types having a different payload carrier dimension in a direction of travel than another payload carrier type; a plurality of carriers configured to move along the track in the direction of travel, each of the plurality of carriers having a substantially identical carrier dimension in the direction of travel and configured to hold any one of the plurality of payload carrier types; carrier exclusion zones, each carrier exclusion zone comprising an area having: (i) an exclusion zone length dimension extending past opposite sides of a corresponding carrier in the direction of travel; and (ii) an exclusion zone width dimension extending perpendicular to the direction of travel, wherein each exclusion zone length dimension in the direction of travel is: (i) based on a largest effective carrier dimension in the direction of travel and (ii) greater than the largest effective carrier dimension in the direction of travel; and a controller configured to navigate the plurality of carriers along the track based on at least one of: (i) the substantially identical carrier dimension in the direction of travel; and (ii) one or more of the different payload carrier dimensions in the direction of travel; further based on a plurality of effective carrier dimensions in the direction of travel, wherein each effective carrier dimension is equal to the larger of: (i) the substantially identical carrier dimension in the direction of travel; and (ii) the corresponding payload carrier dimension in the direction of travel; and further based on the exclusion zone length dimension in the direction of travel; wherein the effective carrier dimensions in the direction of travel and the carrier exclusion zones in the direction of travel are determined by the controller.