Device for the low-temperature storage and the handling of probe tubes in tube racks

Abstract

A device for the handling and the low-temperature storage of probe tubes in tube racks comprises a low-temperature compartment (1) having insulated side and bottom walls (2, 3) and at least one opening (6) at a top side. The compartment (1) is used for storing at least one tube rack at a low temperature. The device has a holder apparatus (8) comprising a rack holder (9) for holding a tube rack and a picker apparatus (25) comprising a gripper (26) adapted to remove and insert individual tubes from or into a tube rack held by said holder. The holder apparatus (8) is adapted to displace the rack holder (9) between an upper rack position outside low-temperature compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower rack position inside the compartment (1). Similarly, the picker apparatus (25) is adapted to displace the gripper (26) between an upper gripper position outside the compartment (1) above the opening (6) and a lower gripper position inside the compartment (1) below the opening (6). This design allows to remove and insert individual tube racks from above through the opening (6) of the low-temperature compartment (1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.