Tube rack transfer device and diagnostic instrument

An in-vitro diagnostic instrument, the in-vitro diagnostic instrument comprising:

• at least one analyzer of the in-vitro diagnostic instrument for carrying out in-vitro diagnostic tests on biological samples;
• at least one sampling area of the in-vitro diagnostic instrument comprising at least one tube rack receiving position accessible for withdrawing samples from sample tubes, the sampling area being positioned between the at least one analyzer and at least one sample unit for inputting and/or outputting tube racks;
• and
• at least one tube rack transfer device for transferring tube racks, the tube rack transfer device comprising,
• a first rail extending in a first horizontal direction and a second rail extending in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction, wherein the second rail is movable along the first rail and comprising at least one transfer head movable along the second rail, wherein the transfer head comprising,
• at least one control pin,
• an input pusher coupled to and engaged with the at least one transfer head by the at least one control pin, the input pusher translatably coupled to an elongate pusher guide extending along the second horizontal direction, for transferring a tube rack from a rack carrier to the sampling area of a diagnostic instrument,
• an output pusher coupled to and engaged with the at least one transfer head by the at least one control pin, the output pusher configured to be pivoted around the at least one control pin by movement of the at least one transfer head for transferring a tube rack from the sampling area of a diagnostic instrument to a rack carrier, and
• a tube rack for transferring the tube rack between different rack carriers and/or between different positions of the same rack carrier, wherein the at least one control pin is configured to be temporarily and mechanically coupled with at least the input pusher, the output pusher, and the tube rack.

A tube rack transfer device for transferring tube racks, the tube rack transfer device comprising:

• a first rail extending in a first horizontal direction and a second rail extending in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction, wherein the second rail is movable along the first rail and comprising at least one transfer head movable along the second rail, wherein the transfer head comprising,
• at least one control pin,
• an input pusher coupled to and engaged with the at least one transfer head by the at least one control pin, the input pusher translatable in the second horizontal direction, wherein the transfer head is provided with an input pusher control pin configured to be coupled with the input pusher for moving the input pusher and wherein the input pusher is provided with an input pusher control pin recess opening in the first horizontal direction so that the input pusher control pin is inserted by moving the transfer head in the first horizontal direction, for transferring a tube rack from a rack carrier to a diagnostic instrument,
• an output pusher coupled to and engaged with the at least one transfer head by the at least one control pin, wherein the transfer head is provided with an output pusher control pin configured to be coupled with the input pusher engaged with an output pusher control pin recess by moving the transfer head in the first horizontal direction such that the output pusher is pivoted around the at least one control pin by movement of the at least one transfer head for transferring a tube rack from the diagnostic instrument to a rack carrier, and
• a tube rack, wherein the second rail is provided with a transfer lane pin which is linearly translatable together with the second rail in the first horizontal direction to engaged with a tube rack recess of the tube rack for transferring the tube rack between different rack carriers and/or between different positions of the same rack carrier, wherein the at least one control pin is configured to be temporarily and mechanically coupled with at least the input pusher, the output pusher, and the tube rack.