AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL APPARATUS FOR FREEZERS AND RELATED METHOD THEREOF

摘要

An automated cold storage apparatus (1), and related method thereof, provides a sample process management system that is a revolutionary approach to the storage and retrieval regarding critical samples. Samples in containers are stored and retrieved robotically through an airlock climate-control chamber (60) that is automatically dehumidified by a dry gas purge, such as a carbon dioxide or nitrogen purge or the like. This purge rapidly reduces ambient humidity to a desirable relative humidity (RH), e.g., less than about 15 % RH, virtually eliminating the accumulation of frost. Microplates are systematically identified using barcode technology, for example. Once through the climate-controlled chamber (60), the containers (i.e., samples) are robotically transferred to the rotary mechanism (43). This mechanism (43) transports the containers to a derived nest location upon the storage means, such as a carousel (20) or to one of the stationary addresses (26, 27).