# US 11,305,940 B2 · Holder transport apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,940 B2 - Document ID: US11305940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/301,221 - Filed: 2021-03-29 - Published: 2021-07-15 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-25 - Assignees: Aoi Seiki Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Aoi Seiki Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Teruaki Itoh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305940B2 ## CPC - B65G 17/12: comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} - B65G 2201/0235: Containers - G01N 2035/0406: {Individual bottles or tubes} - G01N 2035/0465: {Loading or unloading the conveyor} - G01N 2035/0484: {Belt or chain} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A holder transport apparatus according to an embodiment includes, an elevator device comprising a conveyance member which includes an ascending path and a descending path arranged along an ascending and descending circulation path that circulates, and a plurality of support plates which are attached to the conveyance member and support a holder which holds a sample container in an erect state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A holder transport apparatus comprising: an elevator device including a support portion that supports, in an erect state, a holder holding a sample container and moves along a predetermined ascending and descending path; and a plurality of transport mechanisms that are arranged in a plurality of portions in a direction of the ascending and descending path, and convey the holder along a transport line, which is arranged adjacent to the support portion present in the ascending and descending path of the elevator device and intersects with the ascending and descending path, wherein the transport mechanism comprises a guide rail arranged on a lateral side of the holder along the transport line, and a conveyance member that supports a bottom portion of the holder and moves the holder in a transport direction, wherein the support portion comprises a support plate that supports the bottom portion of the holder, and a guide member arranged on the lateral side of the holder, and wherein a space between the support plate of the support portion arranged at a predetermined stop position and an end portion of a transport path of the transport mechanism is narrower than a length of the holder in a direction of the transport path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the transport line and an ascending path or the ascending and descending path of the elevator device are arranged adjacent to each other, and the holder transport apparatus further comprises a moving device which moves the holder between the support plate and the transport line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a processing device which performs processing on the sample container flowing on the transport line. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the ascending and descending paths, and the transport lines each in a plurality of rows in a direction which intersects with an extending direction of the ascending and descending path and an extending direction of the transport line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of holders are mounted on the support portion and arranged in a transport direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guiderail of the support portion opens toward an end portion of an adjacent transport mechanism. ### Claim 7 A holder transport apparatus comprising: an elevator device including a support portion that supports, in an erect state, a holder holding a sample container and moves along a predetermined ascending and descending path; and a plurality of transport mechanisms that are arranged in a plurality of portions in a direction of the ascending and descending path, and convey the holder along a transport line, which is arranged adjacent to the support portion present in the ascending and descending path of the elevator device and intersects with the ascending and descending path, wherein the transport mechanism comprises a guide rail arranged on a lateral side of the holder along the transport line, and a conveyance member that supports a bottom portion of the holder and moves the holder in a transport direction, wherein the support portion supports the bottom portion of the holder, and comprises a guide member arranged on the lateral side of the holder, and wherein a space between the support portion arranged at a predetermined stop position and an end portion of a transport path of the transport mechanism is narrower than a length of the holder in a direction of the transport path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an end portion of the transport line and an ascending path or the ascending and descending path of the elevator device are arranged adjacent to each other, and the holder transport apparatus further comprises a moving device which moves the holder between the support portion and the transport line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a processing device which performs processing on the sample container flowing on the transport line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 7, comprising the ascending and descending paths, and the transport lines each in a plurality of rows in a direction which intersects with an extending direction of the ascending and descending path and an extending direction of the transport line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of holders are mounted on the support portion and arranged in a transport direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The holder transport apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a guiderail of the support portion opens toward an end portion of an adjacent transport mechanism.