Patent Description:
On the conventional equipment for extraction, purification, and sample preparation, the well plate is supported and carried by a horizontally rotating platform. However, the horizontally rotating platform takes up horizontal space and therefore is unfavorable for increasing the number of equipment in a laboratory constrained by limited space. <CIT> discloses a shuttle-type conveying system to convey an article. <CIT> discloses a compact storage system and a corresponding method for storing frozen specimens. <CIT> discloses a device in which a bookrack moves vertically and horizontally. <CIT> discloses a paternostic goods storage system, comprises goods supports which can be moved up and down along and horizontally between vertical conveyors. <CIT> discloses a stand/rack system with movement mechanism. <CIT> discloses a storage system. <CIT> discloses a warehouse-out and warehouse-in device.

Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosure is to provide a vertical transmission equipment capable of solving the problem due to conventional equipment.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment including a base having a mount surface, a rail structure disposed on the mount surface, and a carrier movably disposed on the rail structure, the carrier comprises a supporting surface, and the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment including a base, a rail structure disposed on the base, and a carrier movably disposed on the rail structure, the carrier has a supporting surface, and the supporting surface of the carrier and the rail structure do not overlap with each other in a normal line of the supporting surface.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment including a base and a carrier comprising a supporting surface and movably disposed on the base along a transmission path, the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to an imaginary plane which is defined by the transmission path of the carrier.

According to the vertical transmission equipments as discussed in the above embodiments of the disclosure, the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base, the supporting surface does not overlap with the rail structure in the normal line of the supporting surface, or the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the imaginary plane which is defined by the transmission path of the carrier, thus the supporting surface of the carrier is kept in an angle perpendicular to the base and the rail structure. In other words, the vertical transmission equipment achieves a well plate carrier capable of movable in vertical manner, which makes the vertical transmission equipment take lesser horizontal space and therefore is favorable for increasing the number of equipments in a laboratory constrained by limited space.

The present disclosure will become better understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intending to limit the present disclosure and wherein:.

Firstly, referring to <FIG>, one embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment <NUM>, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may include a base <NUM>, a rail structure <NUM> and a carrier <NUM>. The rail structure <NUM> is disposed on the base <NUM>. As shown, the base <NUM> may have a mount surface <NUM>, the mount surface <NUM> means the surface of the base <NUM> in which the rail structure <NUM> is located. The carrier <NUM> is movably disposed on the rail structure <NUM> and therefore the carrier <NUM> is movable along a transmission path MP on the rail structure <NUM> relative to the base <NUM>. In other words, the rail structure <NUM> defines the transmission path MP for the carrier <NUM> to move relatively to the base <NUM>. In this embodiment, the rail structure <NUM> may be a closed loop rail in a required shape, thus, as shown, the transmission path MP of the carrier <NUM> may be a closed loop on an imaginary plane P1. Note that imaginary plane P1 is defined by the transmission path MP. As such, the carrier <NUM> is able to be repeatedly moved to different areas of the base <NUM> along the transmission path MP.

The carrier <NUM> may include a supporting surface <NUM>, the supporting surface <NUM> may be a flat surface of the carrier <NUM> configured for supporting a well plate <NUM>; in other words, the supporting surface <NUM> means a surface of the carrier <NUM> that is used to support the well plate <NUM>. An imaginary plane P2 in which the supporting surface <NUM> is located is perpendicular to the imaginary plane P1 which is defined by the transmission path MP. Note that the imaginary plane P2 is defined by the supporting surface <NUM>. In other words, the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may be perpendicular to the mount surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the rail structure <NUM>. Thus, in the normal line of the supporting surface <NUM> (i.e., a normal line NL of the imaginary plane P2), the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> does not overlap with the rail structure <NUM> and the mount surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>, such that the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> is kept at an angle perpendicular to the base <NUM> and the rail structure <NUM> when moving. As such, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> takes up lesser horizontal or lateral space and therefore is favorable for increasing the number of vertical transmission equipments in a limited space.

The well plate <NUM> may be any suitable multiwell plate with multiple sample wells used as small test tubes. For example, the well plate <NUM> may have <NUM>, lesser, or more sample wells arranged in a matrix. The well plate <NUM> may be movable relative to the base <NUM> along the transmission path MP by being carried by the carrier <NUM>. Note that the number of the carrier <NUM> that the base <NUM> can support may be modified as required and not intended to limit the disclosure. It is also noted that the well plate that the carrier <NUM> can support is merely provided for better understanding the disclosure but is not intended to limit the disclosure.

In this embodiment, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may further include a roller member <NUM>. The roller member <NUM> is movably disposed on the rail structure <NUM> and therefore is only allowed to be movable along the transmission path MP relative to the base <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> is pivotally connected to the roller member <NUM> about an axis AX. Thus, the carrier <NUM> is movable along the transmission path MP and is rotatable about the axis AX relative to the base <NUM> and the rail structure <NUM>.

Since the carrier <NUM> is pivotally connected to the roller member <NUM>, the gravitational force can naturally correct the carrier <NUM> to a position that makes the normal line NL of its supporting surface <NUM> parallel to the direction of gravity G; in other words, when the rail structure <NUM> is placed in vertical manner, the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may be self-positioned to be horizontal manner by gravitational force, thereby automatically correcting the angle of the well plate <NUM> to be horizontal during the movement of the carrier <NUM> relative to the base <NUM>.

Optionally, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may be cooperated with a sleeve set <NUM>, a magnetic rod set <NUM>, and a lifting mechanism <NUM>. The lifting mechanism <NUM> may be disposed on the base <NUM>. The sleeve set <NUM> and magnetic rod set <NUM> may be connected to different rails of the lifting mechanism <NUM> and therefore can be moved in vertical direction separately. When the carrier <NUM> moves the well plate <NUM> to be under the sleeve set <NUM> and the magnetic rod set <NUM>, the lifting mechanism <NUM> may move the sleeve set <NUM> and magnetic rod set <NUM> into the wells of the well plate <NUM> in the required order, the lifting mechanism <NUM> then can cause the sleeve set <NUM> and magnetic rod set <NUM> to vibrate in a predetermined manner so as to perform the required process to the substance stored in the wells.

Optionally, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may be cooperated with a feeding mechanism <NUM> and a substance feeder <NUM>. The feeding mechanism <NUM> may be disposed on the base <NUM> or disposed on an external structure so as to be located adjacent to the base <NUM>. The substance feeder <NUM> is connected to and movable by the feeding mechanism <NUM>. The substance feeder <NUM> may be moved horizontally by being driven by the feeding mechanism <NUM>. As such, when the carrier <NUM> moves the well plate <NUM> along the transmission path MP to a side of the base <NUM> that corresponds to the feeding mechanism <NUM>, the feeding mechanism <NUM> can move the substance feeder <NUM> to above the well plate <NUM> so that the substance feeder <NUM> can add required substance into the selected wells.

It is noted that the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may use the carrier <NUM> to move the well plate <NUM> to another selected area of the base <NUM> for performing another process, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may further include a power source <NUM>, a plurality of transmission gears <NUM>, and a transmission component <NUM>. The transmission gears <NUM> are pivotally disposed on the mount surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and are arranged adjacent to the rail structure <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may be any suitable motor. The power source <NUM> may be disposed on the base <NUM> and connected to one of the transmission gears <NUM>, thus the power source <NUM> is able to rotate the transmission gear <NUM> relative to the base <NUM>. The transmission component <NUM> may be any suitable gear chain capable of meshing with the transmission gears <NUM>. The transmission component <NUM> may be arranged along the rail structure <NUM> (or, along the transmission path MP) and is movably disposed on the base <NUM> via the transmission gears <NUM>. As such, the transmission gear <NUM> that is connected to the power source <NUM> can simultaneously cause the other transmission gears <NUM> to rotate via the transmission component <NUM> when being driven by the power source <NUM>.

Please refer to the aforementioned figures and further refer to <FIG>, where <FIG> is a partially-enlarged view of the vertical transmission equipment <NUM>, <FIG> is a partially enlarged view of the transmission component <NUM>, and <FIG> are partially-enlarged cross-sectional views of the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> taken from different view angles.

In this embodiment, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may further include a shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is disposed through the roller member <NUM>. The transmission component <NUM> may include a plurality of outer plates. The shaft <NUM> may be inserted into one of the outer plates of the transmission component <NUM> (e.g., an outer plate <NUM>). As shown, the outer plate <NUM> may include a plate portion <NUM>. The plate portion <NUM> may include a shaft hole <NUM> and a mount portion <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is disposed through the shaft hole <NUM>. The outer plate <NUM> is fixed to other parts of the transmission component <NUM> (not numbered, such as inner plate and rollers) via its mount portion <NUM>.

The carrier <NUM> may include a bridging structure <NUM> and a supporting structure <NUM>. The supporting structure <NUM> means the part of the carrier <NUM> used to support the well plate <NUM>. The supporting structure <NUM> may include the supporting surface <NUM>. The bridging structure <NUM> may be pivotally disposed on the shaft <NUM> and connects the supporting structure <NUM>, thus, the supporting structure <NUM> is connected to the shaft <NUM> via the bridging structure <NUM> and the bridging structure <NUM> is pivotally connected to the roller member <NUM> via the shaft <NUM>. The bridging structure <NUM> may include a connecting portion <NUM> and a distal portion <NUM> which are located opposite to each other. The connecting portion <NUM> means the portion of the bridging structure <NUM> in which the supporting structure <NUM> is connected to the bridging structure <NUM>, and the distal portion <NUM> means the portion of the bridging structure <NUM> that is pivotally sleeved on the shaft <NUM>.

At least part of the outer plate <NUM> of the transmission component <NUM> may be pivotally connected to and located between the bridging structure <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM>, thus, the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM> are both rotatable relative to the outer plate <NUM>. When the power source <NUM> causes the transmission component <NUM> to move by driving the transmission gear <NUM> connected thereto, the power source <NUM> is able to move the shaft <NUM> which penetrates through the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM> via the outer plate <NUM> of the transmission component <NUM> thereby causing the shaft <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM> to move along the transmission path MP.

It is noted that the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may selectively position the carrier <NUM> in the selected area of the base <NUM> that is favorable for keeping the carrier <NUM> in horizontal position. For example, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may selectively move the carrier <NUM> to a specific position that the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> and the well plate <NUM> on the carrier <NUM> can kept in horizontal due to gravitational force.

Specifically, the vertical transmission equipment <NUM> may further include a positioning assembly <NUM> and a first sensor S1, and the transmission component <NUM> may further include a protrusion structure <NUM> protruding from the plate portion <NUM>. The positioning assembly <NUM> may be disposed on the base <NUM>. The positioning assembly <NUM> may include a power source <NUM> and a positioning structure <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may be any suitable motor. The power source <NUM> may be disposed on the base <NUM>. The positioning structure <NUM> may be connected to the power source <NUM> and is movably disposed on the base <NUM> via the power source <NUM>. Specifically, the power source <NUM> is able to move the positioning structure <NUM> back and forth along a direction parallel to the axis AX. Corresponding to the positioning structure <NUM>, the bridging structure <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> may further include a positioning hole <NUM>. The positioning hole <NUM> may be located between the connecting portion <NUM> and the distal portion <NUM> of the bridging structure <NUM>. For example, the positioning hole <NUM> and the axis AX may be respectively located adjacent to two opposite ends of the bridging structure <NUM>. The first sensor S1 may be disposed on the base <NUM>. For example, the first sensor S1 may be disposed on or adjacent to the path that the protrusion structure <NUM> travels. When the first sensor S1 senses the protrusion structure <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> is determined to be in the predetermined position. At that moment, the power source <NUM> is able to move the positioning structure <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM> into the positioning hole <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> so as to prevent the carrier <NUM> from rotating relative to the base <NUM>.

Optionally, the positioning assembly <NUM> may further include a second sensor S2. The second sensor S2 may be disposed on the base <NUM>. For example, the second sensor S2 may be disposed on or adjacent to the path that the positioning structure <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM> travels. When the second sensor S2 senses the positioning structure <NUM>, it is determined that the power source <NUM> already causes the positioning structure <NUM> to move out of the positioning hole <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> and thereby preventing the positioning structure <NUM> from interfering the later movement of the carrier <NUM>.

Then, please refer to <FIG> and further refer to <FIG>, where <FIG> depicts that the carrier <NUM> is positioned by the positioning assembly <NUM>. In <FIG>, the transmission component <NUM> can move the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM> along the transmission path MP to the position in <FIG> by its outer plate <NUM> and shaft <NUM>. Then, in <FIG>, when the first sensor S1 senses the protrusion structure <NUM> of the outer plate <NUM> (in other words, when the protrusion structure <NUM> moves to the area can be sensed by the first sensor S1), meaning that the carrier <NUM> reaches the predetermined position. Then or meanwhile, the power source <NUM> stops driving the transmission component <NUM>, and the power source <NUM> moves the positioning structure <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM> into the positioning hole <NUM> on the bridging structure <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. That is, when the positioning structure <NUM> is inserted into the positioning hole <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> is positioned. As such, the positioning assembly <NUM> can secure the part of the bridging structure <NUM> which is located away from the axis AX using the positioning structure <NUM> so as to secure the angle and position of the carrier <NUM>. In other words, the positioning structure <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM> is selectively inserted into the positioning hole <NUM> which is located away from the axis AX. At that moment, the normal line NL of the imaginary plane P2 in which the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> is located is parallel to the direction of gravity G. As a result, the positioning assembly <NUM> secures the supporting surface <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> in horizontal status.

Then, when the carrier <NUM> is needed to be moved to the next stop along the transmission path MP, the power source <NUM> withdraws the positioning structure <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM> from the positioning hole <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. When the second sensor S2 senses the positioning structure <NUM>, it is determined that the positioning structure <NUM> is moved to a position that does not interfere the movement of the carrier <NUM>. By doing so, the power source <NUM> then can drive the transmission component <NUM> again to move the carrier <NUM> and the roller member <NUM> along the transmission path MP.

It is noted that the previous vertical transmission equipment is one of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure but is not intended to limit the disclosure. It is also noted that the vertical transmission equipment can be modified as required. The following provides vertical transmission equipments of other embodiments which are capable of achieving the effect the same as shown in, for example, <FIG>, but for the purpose of simplicity, only the main differences between the introduced embodiment and the previous embodiments will be described in detail, and the same or similar parts can be comprehended with reference to the corresponding paragraphs and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. It is also noted that the same reference number denote the same component or element.

For example, please refer to <FIG>, another embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment <NUM>' whose positioning assembly <NUM>' is the main difference from the previous embodiment. Specifically, the positioning assembly <NUM>' may include a positioning structure <NUM>', a spanning portion <NUM>, a fixed portion <NUM>, a pushable component <NUM>, at least one guiding rod <NUM>, and at least one elastic component <NUM>. Correspondingly, the rail structure <NUM>' may include a through hole <NUM>.

The fixed portion <NUM> may be fixed to the base <NUM>. The guiding rod <NUM> is disposed through the fixed portion <NUM>. The pushable component <NUM> and one end of the spanning portion <NUM> are respectively connected to two opposite ends of the guiding rod <NUM>. The pushable component <NUM> may be movably located at a through hole <NUM> of the rail structure <NUM>'. The first sensor S1 may be disposed on the fixed portion <NUM>. Specifically, the first sensor S1 may be located at a side (or, surface) of the fixed portion <NUM> which faces toward the pushable component <NUM>. The elastic component <NUM> may be any suitable compression spring. The elastic component <NUM> may be sleeved on the guiding rod <NUM> and sandwiched between the pushable component <NUM> and the fixed portion <NUM> (or, two opposite ends of the elastic component <NUM> are respectively in contact with the pushable component <NUM> and the fixed portion <NUM>), such that the elastic component <NUM> is able to force the pushable component <NUM> to move away from the fixed portion <NUM> and thereby causing at least part of the pushable component <NUM> to penetrate through the through hole <NUM> and into the rail structure <NUM>'. Please refer to <FIG>, specifically, the pushable component <NUM> may include an abutting inclined surface <NUM> and a releasing inclined surface <NUM> which are respectively located at two opposite sides thereof and are both inclined relative to the transmission path MP. Due to the elastic component <NUM>, the abutting inclined surface <NUM> and the releasing inclined surface <NUM> may be kept in the rail structure <NUM> and therefore are kept in the path that the roller member <NUM> travels. The abutting inclined surface <NUM> means the slope or slanted surface of the pushable component <NUM> that is configured for receiving the push from the roller member <NUM>. The releasing inclined surface <NUM> means another slope or slanted surface of the pushable component <NUM> that is inclined relative to the abutting inclined surface <NUM>. The positioning structure <NUM>' is connected to one end of the spanning portion <NUM>, and the guiding rod <NUM> stands at the opposing end of the spanning portion <NUM>. The positioning structure <NUM>' may have a shape extending downward from a distal end of the spanning portion <NUM>.

Then, please refer to <FIG> and further refer to <FIG>. Firstly, <FIG> show that the carrier <NUM>' moves along the transmission path MP to a position of just contacting the abutting inclined surface <NUM> of the positioning assembly <NUM>' which is kept in the rail structure <NUM>' by the elastic component <NUM>. The motion of the roller member <NUM> in the transmission path MP can apply force to push the abutting inclined surface <NUM> so as to force the pushable component <NUM> to move out of the rail structure <NUM>'. In specific, the pushable component <NUM> is selectively removed out of the through hole <NUM> of the rail structure <NUM>' by being pushed by the roller member <NUM>.

During the movement of the roller member <NUM> that pushes the pushable component <NUM> out of the through hole <NUM> of the rail structure <NUM>', the pushable component <NUM> moves the positioning structure <NUM>' in the same direction through the guiding rod <NUM> and the spanning portion <NUM>. Then, as shown in <FIG>, a distal portion <NUM>' of the bridging structure <NUM>' of the carrier <NUM>' and the positioning structure <NUM>' are moved to engage with each other. As a result, the carrier <NUM>' is captured by the positioning assembly <NUM>' so that the angle and position of the carrier <NUM>' are secured. Meanwhile, the movement of the pushable component <NUM> driven by the roller member <NUM> can activate the first sensor S1 so that the transmission component <NUM>' is stopped moving the carrier <NUM>' accordingly. It is noted that the first sensor S1 may correspond to the pushable component <NUM> and therefore the outer plate <NUM>' of the transmission component <NUM>' in this embodiment may omit the aforementioned protrusion structure <NUM>.

After a predetermined period of time, the transmission component <NUM> may be activated again to move the carrier <NUM>' and the roller member <NUM> along the transmission path MP, such that the roller member <NUM> can move onto the releasing inclined surface <NUM> of the pushable component <NUM>. During such a movement of the roller member <NUM>, the pushable component <NUM> gradually enters into the rail structure <NUM>' by being forced by the elastic component <NUM>, and the positioning structure <NUM>' may be simultaneously moved in the same direction via the guiding rod <NUM> and the spanning portion <NUM>, such that the positioning structure <NUM>' releases the bridging structure <NUM>' of the carrier <NUM>', thereby allowing the roller member <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>' to keep moving along the transmission path MP.

Please refer to <FIG>, another embodiment of the disclosure provides a vertical transmission equipment <NUM>'' whose positioning assembly <NUM>" is the main difference from the previous embodiments. Specifically, the positioning assembly <NUM>" may include a first positioning structure 61a, a second positioning structure 61b, a first driving gear <NUM>, a first driven gear <NUM>, a second driving gear <NUM>, and a second driven gear <NUM>, where the first driving gear <NUM>, the first driven gear <NUM>, the second driving gear <NUM>, and the second driven gear <NUM> may be any suitable helical gear whose teeth are cut at an angle to the axis.

The first driving gear <NUM> may be connected to the power source <NUM> and is movably disposed on the base <NUM> via the power source <NUM>. Specifically, the power source <NUM> is able to rotate the first driving gear <NUM> about a direction perpendicular to the axis AX, the first driven gear <NUM> is meshed with the first driving gear <NUM>, the first positioning structure 61a is fixed to the first driven gear <NUM> and therefore is movably connected to the first driving gear <NUM> via the first driven gear <NUM>.

The second driving gear <NUM> may be connected to the power source <NUM> and is movably disposed on the base <NUM> via the power source <NUM>. Specifically, the second driving gear <NUM> and the first driving gear <NUM> may be coaxially disposed on the shaft of the power source <NUM>, thus the power source <NUM> is able to rotate the second driving gear <NUM> about the direction perpendicular to the axis AX. As shown, the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> may have opposite helices. In this embodiment, the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> may be two independent gears, but the disclosure is not limited thereto; for example, in other embodiments, the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> may be integrally formed with each other. The second driven gear <NUM> is meshed with the second driving gear <NUM>, the second positioning structure 61b is fixed to the second driven gear <NUM> and therefore is movably connected to the second driving gear <NUM> via the second driven gear <NUM>.

As such, when the power source <NUM> rotates the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM>, the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> are able to rotate the first positioning structure 61a and the second positioning structure 61b in opposite directions by rotating the first driven gear <NUM> and the second driven gear <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, when the first sensor S1 senses the protrusion structure <NUM> of the outer plate <NUM> (meaning that the carrier <NUM> reaches the predetermined positon), the power source <NUM> can accordingly cause the first positioning structure 61a and the second positioning structure 61b to rotate in opposite directions (as indicated by the arrows) via the first driving gear <NUM> and the first driven gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> and the second driven gear <NUM>, such that the first positioning structure 61a and the second positioning structure 61b will contact or appear at two opposite sides of the bridging structure <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. At that moment, the part of the carrier <NUM> which is located relatively away from the axis AX can be clamped or held by the first positioning structure 61a and the second positioning structure 61b (or, sandwiched between the first positioning structure <NUM>a and the second positioning structure 61b), so that the angle and position of the carrier <NUM> are secured.

After a predetermined period of time, the power source <NUM> may reversely rotate the first driving gear <NUM> and the second driving gear <NUM> to move the first positioning structure <NUM>a and the second positioning structure 61b away from the carrier <NUM>. When the second sensor S2 senses one of the positioning structures (e.g., the first positioning structure 61a), it is determined that the first positioning structure 61a and the second positioning structure 61b are at a position that does not interfere with the movement of the carrier <NUM>, thereby allowing the transmission component <NUM> to keep moving the roller member <NUM> and the carrier <NUM> along the transmission path MP.

It is noted that the vertical transmission equipments in some other embodiments may omit the aforementioned second positioning structure, second driving gear, and second driven gear and only remain the first driving gear, the first driven gear, and the first positioning structure to stop at one side of the carrier.

According to the vertical transmission equipments as discussed in the above embodiments of the disclosure, the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the mount surface of the base, the supporting surface does not overlap with the rail structure in the normal line of the supporting surface, or the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to the imaginary plane which is defined by the transmission path of the carrier, thus, the supporting surface of the carrier is movably kept in an angle perpendicular to the base and the rail structure. In other words, the vertical transmission equipment achieves a well plate carrier capable of movable in vertical manner, which makes the vertical transmission equipment take lesser horizontal space and therefore is favorable for increasing the number of equipments in a laboratory constrained by limited space.

Claim 1:
A vertical transmission equipment (<NUM>), comprising:
a base (<NUM>); and
a carrier (<NUM>) comprising a supporting surface (<NUM>) and a well plate (<NUM>) being supported by the supporting surface and movably disposed on the base along a transmission path (MP);
wherein the supporting surface of the carrier is perpendicular to an imaginary plane (P1) which is defined by the transmission path of the carrier;
wherein the vertical transmission equipment further comprises a roller member (<NUM>) movably disposed on the base, the carrier comprises a bridging structure (<NUM>) and a supporting structure (<NUM>), the bridging structure is pivotally connected to the roller member and is connected to the supporting structure, and the supporting surface is located on the supporting structure;
characterized in that
the vertical transmission equipment further comprises a positioning assembly (<NUM>) disposed on the base, the positioning assembly comprises a positioning structure (<NUM>), the bridging structure of the carrier has a positioning hole (<NUM>), the positioning structure of the positioning assembly is selectively inserted into the positioning hole, and when the positioning assembly is inserted into the positioning hole, the carrier is positioned.