Scheduled system and method for processing chemical products

• US 5,928,952 A
• Filed: 11/05/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zymark Corp. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zymark Corp. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Friswell, David R., Hutchins, Burleigh M., Kearsley, Paul A., Tetreault, Eugene T., Swanson, Bruce A., Elands, Jack, Fowler, Tye B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/964,862
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/67, 422/68.1, 422/100, 422/104, 436/43, 436/47, 436/48, 436/50, 436/160, 364/528.01
• US Class Current: 436/50
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/004 Multifunctional apparatus for automatic manufacturing of various chemical products sequential reactions B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/00 Programme-controlled manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive

Abstract

A processing system for processing a plurality of products, the system including a plurality of interchangeable units arranged to sequentially receive the products and each having a work station for effecting a specific operation on each of the products, the operation requiring a given time period; and wherein each work station accommodates simultaneously a predetermined number of the products, and the given time period and predetermined number associated with each unit are different than the given time periods and predetermined numbers of other said units. A transport system transports the products through the processing system so as to provide for each product a common occupancy time therein.

Claims

1. A processing system for processing a plurality of products, said system comprising:

a plurality of interchangeable units interconnected in a series arrangement to sequentially receive the products and each having a work station for effecting a specific operation on each of the products, said operation requiring a given time period; and

wherein each said work station accommodates simultaneously a predetermined number of the products, and said given time period and predetermined number associated with each said unit are different than said given time periods and predetermined numbers of other said units; and

wherein said predetermined number and given time period of each unit are such as to accommodate for each unit a selected product throughput rate; and

a transport system for sequentially transporting the products through each of said units at said selected throughput rate so as to provide for each product a common occupancy time in the processing system.

2. A processing system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said units are interconnected in a rectilinear array that accommodates movement of the products in a rectilinear path.

3. A processing system according to claim 2 wherein each said unit comprises electrical connector means automatically coupled to said connector means of adjacent units in response to interconnection thereof.

4. A processing system according to claim 3 wherein said connector means of each unit comprise a pair of connectors shaped and arranged for connection with said connectors of straddling units.

5. A processing system according to claim 4 wherein said connectors are disposed in uniform locations of each unit.

6. A processing system according to claim 5 wherein the system is a chemical screening system and the products are chemical assays.

7. A processing system according to claim 6 wherein each said unit is supported on rollers to provide mobility.

8. A processing system according to claim 7 wherein said units include a corner unit connected to one end of said rectilinear array and shaped and arranged to provide movement of the products in a direction transverse to said rectilinear path.

9. A processing system according to claim 1 wherein each said unit comprises electrical connector means automatically coupled to said connector means of adjacent units in response to interconnection thereof.

10. A processing system according to claim 9 wherein said connector means of each unit comprise a pair of connectors shaped and arranged for connection with said connectors of straddling units.

11. A processing system according to claim 10 wherein said connectors are disposed in uniform locations of each unit.

12. A processing system according to claim 11 wherein said units include a corner unit connected to one end of said rectilinear array and shaped and arranged to provide movement of the products in a direction transverse to said rectilinear path.

13. A processing system according to claim 12 wherein said units include a corner unit connected to one end of said rectilinear array and shaped and arranged to provide movement of the products in a direction transverse to said rectilinear path.

14. A processing system according to claim 1 wherein the system is a chemical screening system and the products are chemical assays.

15. A processing system according to claim 1 wherein each said unit is supported on rollers to provide mobility.

16. A method for processing products and comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of interchangeable units, each having a work station;

interconnecting said units in a predetermined series arrangement;

transporting the products sequentially through said units so as to maintain in each said work station a predetermined number of products different than the predetermined number of products in other said work stations;

effecting on the products in each said work station a specific operation, said specific operation in each said work station requiring a given time period different than the time periods required in other said work stations; and

wherein said predetermined number and given time period of each unit are such as to accommodate for each unit a selected product throughput rate; and

controlling said transporting step so as to establish said selected throughput rate for each unit and provide for each product a common occupancy time in said system.

17. A method for processing products according to claim 16 wherein said interconnecting step comprises the steps of interconnecting some of said units into a first rectilinear array and interconnecting other said units in a second array disposed transverse to said first array.

18. A method for processing products according to claim 17 wherein each said unit is supported on rollers to provide mobility.

19. A method for processing products according to claim 16 wherein the system is a chemical screening system and the products are chemical assays.

20. A method for processing products according to claim 19 including the steps of loading said chemical assays into individual receptacles prior to said transporting steps, and wherein said operations comprise incubation, receptacle washing and reagent addition operations.