A workbench system comprising a first workbench having a work surface 3 and a transport layer 4 at a different level to the work surface. The transport layer, defining a plane with an x direction and a perpendicular y direction, comprises a transport surface 42 for supporting a shuttle carrier 7 for carrying one or more samples and a magnetic conveyor system arranged below the transport surface wherein the conveyor system couples with magnets present on the shuttle carrier to move or slide the shuttle carrier. The magnetic conveyor system may comprise a first rail 52, a second parallel rail 52 and third rail 54 extending between the first and second rails and a coupling element wherein the third rail is configured to move along the first and second rails to move the coupling element in the x direction and the coupling element 6 is configured to move along the third rail to move in the y direction. Ideally, the system further comprises a robotic arm 10 for moving a sample between the transport layer and the work surface. The system may comprise plurality of workbenches positioned side by side so that a shuttle carrier can be transferred between adjacent workbenches.
Workbench system
2022-05-18
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1991
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