Device for lifting a sample tube

A device for lifting a sample tube retained in a sample tube carrier, the device comprising:

• a holder having a column and fingers, wherein the fingers are provided at an upper end of the column and are configured to retain the sample tube carrier, wherein the holder is supported moveably in a vertical direction between a lower holder position and an upper holder position for lifting and lowering the sample tube carrier with a sample tube retained between the fingers;
• and
• a centering tool having a pair of centering jaws extending parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction, wherein the centering jaws are arranged above the upper holder position such that by moving the holder into the upper position, a sample tube retained in a sample tube carrier retained between the fingers is lifted into a position between the centering jaws, and wherein the centering jaws are moveable to approach each other relative to the lifted sample tube for centering the lifted sample tube with respect to a vertical central axis;
• and
• one drive system, wherein the holder is moveable by the drive system at least from the lower holder position into the upper holder position, wherein the centering jaws are moveable by the drive system relative to the lifted sample tube for centering the lifted sample tube with respect to a vertical central axis, and, wherein the drive system comprises a first slide supported moveably in the vertical direction to-and-fro between a lower slide position and an upper slide position via a first intermediate slide position and second intermediate slide position, wherein the first slide interacts with the holder for moving the holder from the lower holder position into the upper holder position upon movement between the lower slide position and the first intermediate slide position and interacts with the centering tool for actuating the centering tool upon movement between the second intermediate slide position and the upper slide position.