Automated specimen processing systems and methods

An automated specimen processing system comprising:

• an automated stacker and de-stacker comprising:
• a lift pad;
• a clamping mechanism comprising two or more clamps, each clamp comprising two edges;
• and
• one or more processors for controlling the lift pad and the clamping mechanism,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to control the lift pad and the clamping mechanism to stack a first culture plate by:
• raising the lift pad along with the first culture plate resting atop the lift pad until a top surface of a lid of the first culture plate touches or is proximate to a bottom surface of a base of a second culture plate at the bottom of a first stack of culture plates;
• opening the clamping mechanism;
• further raising the lift pad along with the first culture plate and the first stack of culture plates supported thereon;
• and
• closing the clamping mechanism such that the clamping mechanism contacts a base of the first culture plate, and
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to control the lift pad and the clamping mechanism to de-stack a third culture plate by:
• raising the lift pad until a top surface of the lift pad touches or is proximate to a bottom surface of a base of the third culture plate;
• opening the clamping mechanism;
• lowering the lift pad along with the third culture plate and a second stack of culture plates supported thereon;
• closing the clamping mechanism such that the two or more clamps contact a base of a fourth culture plate within the second stack of culture plates and that is resting atop a lid of the third culture plate;
• and
• further lowering the lift pad to carry the third culture plate away from the second stack of culture plates;
• and
• a conveyor system comprising a track configured to transport culture plates to and from the automated stacker and de-stacker,
• wherein the further lowering of the lift pad to carry the third culture plate away from the second stack of culture plates comprises lowering the lift pad to a position beneath the track and consequently placing the third culture plate on the track;
• and
• wherein a force applied to the first and fourth culture plates by the clamping mechanism after it closes is small enough to permit the first and fourth culture plates to slide downwards until the lid of the first culture plate and a lid of the fourth culture plate contacts the two or more clamps.

A method comprising:

• positioning a first culture plate beneath a stack of culture plates and above a lift pad;
• raising the lift pad along with the first culture plate resting atop the lift pad until a top surface of a lid of the first culture plate touches or is proximate to a bottom surface of a base of a second culture plate at the bottom of the stack of culture plates;
• opening a clamping mechanism comprising two or more clamps;
• further raising the lift pad along with the first culture plate and the stack of culture plates supported thereon;
• and
• closing the clamping mechanism such that the two or more clamps contact a base of the first culture plate, wherein a force applied to the first culture plate by the clamping mechanism after it closes is small enough to permit the first culture plate to slide downwards until the lid of the first culture plate contacts the two or more clamps.

A method comprising:

• raising a lift pad until a top surface of the lift pad touches or is proximate to a bottom surface of a base of a first culture plate at the bottom of a stack of culture plates;
• opening a clamping mechanism comprising two or more clamps;
• lowering the lift pad along with the first culture plate and the stack of culture plates supported thereon;
• closing the clamping mechanism such that the two or more clamps contact a base of a second culture plate within the stack of culture plates, wherein the second culture plate is resting atop a lid of the first culture plate, and wherein a force applied to the second culture plate by the clamping mechanism after it closes is small enough to permit the second culture plate to slide downwards until a lid of the second culture plate contacts the two or more clamps;
• and
• further lowering the lift pad to separate the first culture plate from the stack of culture plates.