Patent Description:
It is common practice to perform chemical tests in automated systems that are capable of storing, moving, manipulating, and discarding receptacles carrying the samples that are subject to analysis or storage. Receptacles may include sample receptacles for sample analysis, particularly sample tubes. The automated systems have become quite sophisticated in their ability to perform several different analyses and how the receptacles are transported, manipulated and stored. The vessels may also be transported to be stored within a separate sample storage device which may also be responsible for discarding some or all of the stored samples after a certain period of time. There is a continuous desire to increase the autonomous operation span of both such devices. Accordingly, efforts have been made to increase the capacity of receptacle storages, additive tanks, etc..

Attention has also been paid to the waste management of such automated devices and storages. In pursuit of longer unattended analysis runs, the waste capacity of automated chemical analysis devices and storages has increased. <CIT>, for example, discloses a waste bin handling system that rotates several waste bins so as to enable the operator to replace a full waste bin with an empty one in an attempt to maintain the ability to receive vast amounts of discarded receptacles.

Document <CIT> discloses an automated receptacle handling system.

An automated receptacle handling system is proposed having an automated receptacle handling device with a receptive space for receiving a waste bin carrier, a waste bin carrier for introduction into the receptive space of the automated receptacle handling device, and a locking mechanism movably attached to the waste bin carrier for releasably securing at least one waste bin to the waste bin carrier. The waste bin carrier includes a frame having a base for receiving thereon one waste bin or more. The waste bin carrier also has a locking mechanism movably attached to the frame for releasably securing at least one waste bin to the waste bin carrier. The locking mechanism has a pusher guide that extends in a first horizontal Cartesian dimension for lateral engagement with the waste bin. The locking mechanism also has at least one articulated arm that connects the pusher guide to the frame of the waste bin carrier for allowing movement of the pusher guide in respect to the frame between the deployed state and the released state. The locking mechanism can be manipulated between a deployed state, in which the locking mechanism engages the at least one waste bin, and a released state, in which the locking mechanism is disengaged from the at least one waste bin. In the released state the pusher guide is proximal to the frame and in the deployed state the pusher guide is distanced from the frame in a second horizontal Cartesian dimension.

Considerable benefits are gained with the novel proposition. Modern automated laboratory storage systems may store more than <NUM> receptacles and dispose more than <NUM> receptacles per day. Accordingly, a single storage system may produce tens of kilograms of waste per day. With the novel arrangement, the filled waste bins are less strenuous to remove from the storage system as the bins are on a carrier, such as a wheeled trolley. Because the waste bin carrier features a locking mechanism, several waste bins may be easily loaded on, secured to and preferably positioned in respect to the carrier enabling the division of the load into more than one waste bin.

According to one embodiment the waste bin carrier is enabled to receive several waste bins. The waste load may thereby be divided between several waste bins which may be manipulated by hand thus removing the need to construct and maintain complicated automated waste management solutions.

In the following exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Due to the nature of existing waste management solutions for automated chemical analysers and storages, the owners of such devices and the operators tending to the operation of the devices would benefit from a simpler and less strenuous approach to waste management. It is therefore an aim of at least some herein described embodiments to provide a simple and light waste management solution for an automated sample handling environment or at least provide the public with a useful alternative. Accordingly, an articulated locking mechanism of a waste bin carrier is proposed for engaging at least one - preferably at least two - waste bins laterally to position and secure the waste bin(s) to the waste bin carrier.

Suitable automated sample vessel handling devices include automated laboratory storage systems, chemical analysers, etc. A receptacle may be a sample receptacle, such as a sample tube or a cuvette, or another receptacle, such as a light flower pot, beverage container, etc. According to a particular embodiment, the sample receptacle is intended to contain a biological sample.

As shown in <FIG>, the waste bin carrier <NUM> takes - according to one embodiment - the form of a trolley. Accordingly, the waste bin carrier <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> which is provided with wheels <NUM> for assisted handling. The frame <NUM> has a generally prismatic shape and open front and top ends. The frame <NUM> defines a carrier space <NUM> which is created between the lateral sides and the rear side. The carrier space <NUM> is open-ended in the sense that the front end of the frame <NUM> is left open for access into the carrier space <NUM>. On the other hand the top end of the frame <NUM> is left open so that the waste bins loaded onto the waste bin carrier <NUM> may be accessible from above. Indeed, the lateral sides and the rear side of the frame <NUM> may be generally open and accessible or closed with a panel, mesh, etc. (not shown).

The bottom of the frame <NUM> is closed with a base <NUM>. The base <NUM> has a platform <NUM> extending between the bottom ends of the lateral sides of the frame <NUM>. The platform <NUM> is designed to receive and support waste bins above the ground. While it would be possible to provide a waste bin carrier <NUM> for only one waste bin, it is preferable to include several waste bin positions on the base <NUM> so as to limit the weight and size of an individual waste bin. In the illustrated example, the base <NUM> has two successive waste bin positions for two respective waste bins. However, more waste bin positions could be foreseen by constructing a larger waste bin carrier. Indeed, one could foresee a matrix-like arrangement comprising, e.g. a four-by-four, a two-by-four, a two-by-two, or a one-by-three arrangement. The platform <NUM> is a generally flat supporting structure preferably allowing for sliding movement between the platform <NUM> and a waste bin. The platform <NUM> may be solid as shown in the FIGURES or provided with apertures or constructed by a plurality of elongated supports or a mesh. The allowed movement is in the longitudinal dimension of movement of the waste bin carrier <NUM> which in the present context is referred to as the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X (see <FIG> and <FIG>). In other words, the loading direction leading from the open front end of the waste bin carrier <NUM> towards the closed rear end of the waste bin carrier <NUM> extends in the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X. Accordingly, the normal horizontal Cartesian dimension in respect to the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X is referred to as the second horizontal Cartesian dimension Z (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The movement of the waste bins is limited in the second horizontal Cartesian dimension Z by a guide <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may be provided as protrusions extending from the platform <NUM> along the first horizontal Cartesian dimension Z, having a height in the vertical Cartesian dimension and being spaced apart in the second Cartesian dimension Z so as to provide a track for the waste bins on the base <NUM>. Alternatively, the guide may be provided as guiding elements attached to the frame (not shown).

The platform <NUM> may be further equipped for assisted movement between the base <NUM> and the waste bins. The surface of the platform may be polished or otherwise smoothened for reduced friction or it may be provided with rollers or similar bearings (not shown).

As shown in <FIG>, the waste bin carrier <NUM> features a handle <NUM> at the rear of the carrier for manual propulsion. Alternatively, the waste bin carrier could be manipulated by a machine manipulator with a conveyor, robot, or similar device. <FIG> also reveals that the waste bin carrier <NUM> includes a locking mechanism <NUM> provided into the carrier space <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment both lateral sides of the frame <NUM> have been fitted with a locking mechanism <NUM>. In other words, the waste bin carrier <NUM> has two locking mechanisms <NUM> attached to the frame <NUM> and opposing each other in the carrying space <NUM>. More specifically, the two locking mechanisms <NUM> are configured to engage the waste bin or waste bins <NUM> from respective opposing sides in the second horizontal Cartesian dimension for securing the waste bin or waste bins <NUM> to the waste bin carrier <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG> which shows details of the frame <NUM> and the thereto attached locking mechanism <NUM>. Firstly it is to be noted that the frame <NUM> of the illustrated example includes a host of profiles attached to each other to form a network that makes up the carrier frame. The profiles may be hollow tubes or similar members that are joined to each other by welding, tight fits or removable attachment means, such as clamps, threads, etc. The frame <NUM> therefore includes generally vertical frame members <NUM> and generally horizontal frame members <NUM>. The locking mechanism <NUM> is movably attached to the frame <NUM>, e.g. to a horizontal frame member <NUM>. The locking mechanism <NUM> includes a pusher guide <NUM>. The pusher guide <NUM> may be a pusher guide beam, a pusher guide wire, a pusher guide bar, a pusher guide rod, or a comparable elongated member. In practice, the pusher guide <NUM> may preferably be a shaped wire so as to be as light as possible. As illustrated in <FIG>, the pusher guide <NUM> is elongated and extends in the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X. The pusher guide <NUM> has a leading end <NUM> provided at the front end of the waste bin carrier <NUM> that is preferably shaped to engage a corresponding switch or stop in the automated sample handling device <NUM> to record the assumed position. The pusher guide <NUM> also has a trailing end <NUM> at the opposing end. The trailing end <NUM> may include a handle, such as the illustrated angled portion, for assisted manipulation.

The elongated pusher guide <NUM> is shaped to engage the lateral side of the waste bins. Accordingly, the pusher guide <NUM> features a separator <NUM> extending in the second horizontal Cartesian dimension Z into the carrying space <NUM>. The purpose of the separator <NUM> is to wedge into a gap or recess between two successive waste bins <NUM> thus positioning the waste bins <NUM> on the base <NUM>. This effect is best shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. According to the simple embodiment of <FIG>, the separator <NUM> takes the form of a kink or angled protuberance in the shape of the pusher guide <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the locking mechanism <NUM> is movably attached to the frame <NUM> for releasably securing the waste bins <NUM> thereto. According to the illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism <NUM> has at least one articulated arm <NUM> which connects the pusher guide <NUM> to the frame <NUM> so as to allow movement of the pusher guide <NUM> in respect to the frame <NUM> between a deployed state and a released state. In the illustrated embodiment there are two of said articulated arms <NUM> for added stability. The successively arranged in arms <NUM> are spaced apart in the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X. The arms <NUM> are articulated from both ends about respective vertical horizontal Cartesian axes. While other degrees of freedom are possible, they are not enabled in the shown example. The purpose of the two-ended hinge arm is to abduct and retract the pusher guide <NUM> in respect to the frame <NUM> to move the locking mechanism <NUM> between a released (<FIG>) and deployed (<FIG>) configuration, respectively. On the one hand the arm <NUM> moves the pusher guide <NUM> through a path that has a component in the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X. This means that the arm <NUM> will move the pusher guide <NUM> forwards and backwards in the loading direction of the waste bin carrier <NUM>. In the released position, in the leading end <NUM> of the pusher guide <NUM> extends outside the periphery of the frame <NUM> through the open side thereof (<FIG> and <FIG>). The purpose of the reach is to make contact with the receiving automated receptacle handling device <NUM> so as to indicate that the waste bin carrier <NUM> has assumed its position. In the deployed position, the leading end <NUM> of the pusher guide <NUM> is retracted in the first horizontal Cartesian dimension X towards the carrying space <NUM> (<FIG>). More specifically, the leading end <NUM> may be within the carrying space <NUM>, i.e. delimited by the frame <NUM>, when the locking mechanism <NUM> is in the deployed state. On the other hand the arm <NUM> the moves the pusher guide <NUM> through a path that has a component in a second horizontal Cartesian dimension Z. This means that the arm <NUM> will move the pusher guide <NUM> closer to and farther from the frame <NUM> and respectively farther from and closer to the opposing locking mechanism. This movement makes the locking mechanism <NUM> grab the waste bins <NUM> laterally.

The locking mechanism may be provided to the sample bin carrier. Examples of automated receptacle handling device include warm storages, cold storages, automated refrigerators, analysers, automated incubation devices, etc..

The use of the device and system is simple. When the automated receptacle handling device <NUM> indicates that the waste bins <NUM> are to be emptied, the waste bin carrier <NUM> is grabbed by the handle <NUM> and withdrawn from the automated receptacle handling device <NUM> by pulling, which movement is assisted by the wheels <NUM>. With the waste bin carrier <NUM> exposed, the waste bin or waste bins <NUM> are removed. First, the locking mechanism <NUM> is released by pushing the pusher guide <NUM> towards the front end of the waste bin carrier <NUM> from the trailing end <NUM> or pulling from the leading end <NUM>. The hinged connection between the pusher guide <NUM> and the arms <NUM> and between the arms <NUM> and the frame <NUM> allows the arms <NUM> to turn about the vertical axis so as to bring the pusher guides <NUM> towards the front of the waste bin carrier <NUM> and towards the frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the opposing pusher guides <NUM> of the locking mechanism are retracted from the waste bins <NUM> and from each other. Now the locking mechanism <NUM> assumed the released state as depicted by <FIG>. Next, the filled waste bins <NUM> may be removed from the base <NUM> by lifting the waste bins <NUM> over the frame <NUM> or preferably by sliding the waste bins <NUM> along the platform <NUM> and out the front end of the waste bin carrier <NUM>.

Loading is performed in a reversed order. The empty waste bins <NUM> are loaded onto the base <NUM> by lifting over the frame <NUM> or preferably by sliding them in along the platform <NUM>. The waste bins <NUM> are positioned and secured to the waste bin carrier <NUM> by moving the locking mechanism <NUM> from the released state (<FIG>) into the deployed state (<FIG>). This may be done manually before or during the insertion of the waste bin carrier <NUM> into the receptive space of the automated receptacle handling device <NUM>. When the user pushes the waste bin carrier <NUM> into the automated receptacle handling device <NUM>, the leading ends <NUM> of the pusher guides <NUM> - if not already retracted to the deployed state - will make contact with a cooperating surface of the automated receptacle handling device <NUM>. The cooperating surface or any other enclosing part of the automated receptacle handling device <NUM> may include a sensor, such as an optical sensor, for sensing the presence of the waste bin carrier. As the pushing movement continues, the pusher guides <NUM> are guided from the released position into the deployed position by the arms <NUM> which rotate about the vertical axis so as to bring the pusher guides <NUM> closer to each other and further back towards the rear of the waste bin carrier <NUM>. Now the pusher guides make contact with the lateral surface of the waste bins <NUM>. Should the waste bins <NUM> be located slightly out of position on the base <NUM>, the wedged shape of the separator <NUM> will wedge into the gap between the waste bins <NUM> to urge the empty and thus light waste bins <NUM> on the platform <NUM> to the correct position in the first Cartesian dimension X. Since the waste bins <NUM> are typically made from a polymer material which is inherently flexible, the user will receive haptic feedback through the handle <NUM> or through the locking mechanism <NUM>, if there is a problem with the positioning, e.g. if the separator <NUM> does not slot into place. If the waste bin carrier <NUM> is loaded normally, the user will notice the trailing end <NUM> of the locking mechanism <NUM> assume its rearmost position in the first Cartesian dimension X indicating that the waste bin carrier <NUM> has arrived to the loaded position and that the waste bins <NUM> are secured. Another indication is the position of the handle <NUM> in respect to the automated receptacle handling device <NUM>.

Several variations to the illustrated and above described embodiments are foreseen. For example, instead of squeezing the waste bins <NUM> from the lateral sides in the second Cartesian dimension Z and loading and unloading the waste bin carrier <NUM> in the first Cartesian dimension X, it could be possible to reverse the structure. It is foreseen to open a lateral side of the waste bin carrier to allow for loading and unloading in the second Cartesian dimension Z and to provide the front end of the waste bin carrier with a locking mechanism (not shown). The locking mechanism could take the form a movable member that upon contact with the automated receptacle handling device would secure the waste bins towards the rear end of the waste bin carrier. In such an embodiment it would be preferable to provide the waste bin carrier with some sort of a divider (not shown) dividing the carrying space in the first Cartesian dimension X. The divider could be stationary or movable between a deployed and released state.

Also foreseeable is an embodiment making use of a single articulated pusher guide, i.e. a one-sided locking mechanism holding the waste bin or bins from one lateral side.

According to an advanced embodiment, the locking mechanism is equipped with biasing elements, such as springs, that are configured to bias the arms towards one or both extreme position(s). The pusher guides would then be urged towards the deployed or released state or both. The biasing element may be provided between the arm and the frame.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made as long as defined by the claims set forth below.

Claim 1:
An automated receptacle handling system comprising:
- an automated receptacle handling device (<NUM>) comprising a receptive space for receiving a waste bin carrier (<NUM>),
- a waste bin carrier (<NUM>) configured to be introduced into the receptive space of the automated receptacle handling device (<NUM>), and
- a locking mechanism (<NUM>) movably attached to the waste bin carrier (<NUM>) for releasably securing at least one waste bin (<NUM>) to the waste bin carrier (<NUM>), wherein:
- the waste bin carrier (<NUM>) comprises a frame (<NUM>) and a base (<NUM>) attached to the frame (<NUM>, the base being configured to receive thereon the at least one waste bin (<NUM>),
- the locking mechanism (<NUM>) is movably attached to the frame (<NUM>),
- the locking mechanism (<NUM>) is configured to be manipulated between a deployed state, in which the locking mechanism engages the at least one waste bin (<NUM>), and a released state, in which the locking mechanism is disengaged from the at least one waste bin (<NUM>),
characterized in that:
- the locking mechanism (<NUM>) comprises:
∘ a pusher guide (<NUM>) extending in a first horizontal Cartesian dimension (X) for lateral engagement with the at least one waste bin (<NUM>), and
∘ at least one articulated arm (<NUM>) connecting the pusher guide (<NUM>) to the frame (<NUM>) of the waste bin carrier (<NUM>) so as to allow movement of the pusher guide (<NUM>) in respect to the frame (<NUM>) between the deployed state and the released state, and in that
- in the released state the pusher guide (<NUM>) is proximal to the frame (<NUM>) and in the deployed state the pusher guide (<NUM>) is distanced from the frame (<NUM>) in a second horizontal Cartesian dimension (Z).