LIQUID TRANSPORTING DEVICE

• US 20100229659A1
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musashi Engineering, Inc
• Original Assignee: Musashi Engineering, Inc
• Inventors: Ikushima, Kazumasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.110
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00364 Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00698 Measurement and control of process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0248 Prongs, quill pen type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00762 magnetic code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00801 Holders for sample carriers, e.g. trays, caroussel, racks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00851 process control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device

Abstract

A liquid transporting device capable of transporting a liquid, such as dispensing or distributing a liquid, to microplates in number larger than a value mountable on a table. The liquid transporting device comprises a table on an upper surface of which a storing member and a discharge receiving member are detachably mounted, sucking/discharging means, a control unit for transporting a liquid in accordance with a previously incorporate program while relatively moving the sucking/discharging means and the table, input means, and alarm signal notifying means. The control unit has a function of determining whether ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is a work target of the previously incorporate program, is identical to ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member mounted on the table. The control unit continues transporting work when both data of the ID information are identical at the same position, and issues an error signal and notifies the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, through the alarm signal notifying means when the both are different.

Claims

1. A liquid transporting device comprising a table on an upper surface of which are detachably mounted a storing member having a plurality of storage holes to store liquids therein and a discharge receiving member having a plurality of storage holes into which liquids are discharged, sucking/discharging mechanism for sucking and discharging a liquid in a desired amount, a control unit for transporting the liquid from the storing member to the discharge receiving member in accordance with a previously incorporate program while relatively moving the sucking/discharging means mechanism and the table, input device for inputting commands to the control unit, and alarm signal notifying device,

the liquid transporting device enabling work to be performed on the storing member outside the table and/or the discharge receiving member outside the table,

wherein the control unit stores, as first ID information, ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is a work target of the previously incorporate program, stores, as second ID information, ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member mounted on the table, and determines whether the first ID information and the second ID information are identical, when transporting work is performed, wherein the transporting work is executed when both the first ID information and the second ID information are identical, and wherein the alarm signal notifying device issues a signal for prompting replacement of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member mounted on the table and notifies the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member outside the table, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, when the both are different.

2. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm notifying device is a monitor for displaying the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, and/or a speaker for producing voices to notify the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program.

3. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein when the signal for prompting the replacement is issued, the control unit stops the relative movement of the sucking/discharging mechanism and the table.

4. The liquid transporting device according to claim 3, wherein when the signal for prompting the replacement is issued, the control unit restarts the transporting work after the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, is updated.

5. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member has a barcode holding the ID information thereof, and

wherein the table is provided with a receiver for reading the ID information held by the barcode on the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member which is mounted on the table, and for sending the read ID information to the control unit.

6. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member has a barcode holding the ID information thereof, and

wherein the table is provided with a receiver for reading the ID information held by the barcode on the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member which is mounted on the table, and for sending the read ID information to the control unit.

7. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge receiving member is a microplate.

8. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the storing member is a microplate.

9. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the storing member is constituted by a plurality of test tubes supported on a holder.

10. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the sucking/discharging mechanism is a pipette.

11. The liquid transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the sucking/discharging mechanism is a tube or a pin having a slit formed at a distal end thereof, which sucks the liquid by the action of a capillary phenomenon.

12. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the alarm notifying device is a monitor for displaying the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, and/or a speaker for producing voices to notify the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program.

13. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member has a barcode holding the ID information thereof, and

wherein the table is provided with a receiver for reading the ID information held by the barcode on the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member which is mounted on the table, and for sending the read ID information to the control unit.

14. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member has a barcode holding the ID information thereof, and

wherein the table is provided with a receiver for reading the ID information held by the barcode on the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member which is mounted on the table, and for sending the read ID information to the control unit.

15. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the discharge receiving member is a microplate.

16. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the storing member is a microplate.

17. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the storing member is constituted by a plurality of test tubes supported on a holder.

18. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the sucking/discharging mechanism is a pipette.

19. The liquid transporting device to claim 4, wherein the sucking/discharging mechanism is a tube or a pin having a slit formed at a distal end thereof, which sucks the liquid by the action of a capillary phenomenon.