Device and method for transferring objects

A method for transferring objects in a liquid handling work platform that comprises:

• a) providing an essentially horizontal work field with a lengthwise dimension in the X direction and a transverse dimension, running in the Y direction, essentially perpendicularly thereto;
• b) providing at least one device for transferring objects, this device including at least one rail extending parallel to the X direction and a displacement unit, which is movable back and forth in the X direction on this rail using drives, and a motorized gripping mechanism for grasping an object;
• c) providing a barcode reader positioned on the displacement unit, which is rotatable/tiltable around one or more axes and implemented to identify the actual content of objects on specimen carriers or in a specimen container;
• and
• d) providing a processor for controlling the movements of the displacement unit, the actions of the gripping mechanism and the identity of the samples and/or the objects as well as their X/Y positions,
• the method further comprising the following steps:
• 1) positioning of objects on at least one essentially horizontal work field in a first X/Y position;
• 2) reading identification marks or flags of specimen carriers or objects essentially vertically from the rear of the work field in a first passage using the barcode reader;
• 3) identifying the actual content of objects on these specimen carriers or in a specimen container in a second passage using the barcode reader and grasping the identified objects at the first X/Y position using the gripping mechanism;
• 4) moving the identified and grasped objects onto a plate of the carrying device;
• 5) transferring the identified and grasped objects in the X direction on this carrying plate;
• and
• 6) depositing the identified, grasped, and transferred objects again at a second X/Y position on an essentially horizontal work field.