Automated microplate filling device and method
First Claim
1. An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates, each of said plurality of microplates having a microplate lid, said automated machine comprising:
- A) at least one input stacking chamber for stacking empty microplates,B) at least one output stacking chamber for stacking filled microplates, andC) a microplate filling assembly disposed between said at least one input stacking chamber and said at least one output stacking chamber, comprising;
1. an input chamber lifting mechanism for periodically lifting all microplates in said at least one stacking chamber except a bottom microplate,2. a linear actuator,3. a walking beam indexer attached to said linear actuator, driven by said linear actuator and positioned to move empty microplates from said at least one input stacking chamber to said at least one output stacking chamber,4. a lid lifter attached to said linear actuator, for lifting the lid off each microplate to permit the microplate to be filled, and after filling to replace the lid,5. a nozzle in communication with a media source and positioned to fill the empty microplates after their lids have been lifted off, and6. an output chamber lifting mechanism for lifting all filled microplates in said at least one output stacking chamber to provide a space for recently filled microplates to be moved to a bottom position in said at least one stacking chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates. The automated machine includes at least one input stacking chamber for stacking empty microplates, at least one output stacking chamber for stacking filled microplates, and a microplate filling assembly disposed between the at least one input stacking chamber and the at least one output stacking chamber. The microplate filling assembly has: (1) an input chamber lifting mechanism for periodically lifting all microplates but the bottom microplate in the at least one input stacking chamber, (2) a linear actuator, (3) a walking beam indexer attached to the linear actuator, driven by the linear actuator and positioned to move microplates from the at least one input stacking chamber to the at least one output stacking chamber, (4) a lid lifter attached to the linear actuator, for lifting the lid off of each microplate to permit the microplate to be filled, and after filling to replace the lid, (5) a nozzle in communication with a media source and positioned to fill the microplates after their lids have been lifted off, and (6) an output chamber lifting mechanism for lifting all filled microplates in the at least one output stacking chamber to provide a space for recently filled microplates to be moved to a bottom position in the at least one stacking chamber. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are ten input stacking chambers and ten output stacking chambers and they are mounted on an input carousel and output carousel, respectively.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates, each of said plurality of microplates having a microplate lid, said automated machine comprising:
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A) at least one input stacking chamber for stacking empty microplates, B) at least one output stacking chamber for stacking filled microplates, and C) a microplate filling assembly disposed between said at least one input stacking chamber and said at least one output stacking chamber, comprising; 1. an input chamber lifting mechanism for periodically lifting all microplates in said at least one stacking chamber except a bottom microplate, 2. a linear actuator, 3. a walking beam indexer attached to said linear actuator, driven by said linear actuator and positioned to move empty microplates from said at least one input stacking chamber to said at least one output stacking chamber, 4. a lid lifter attached to said linear actuator, for lifting the lid off each microplate to permit the microplate to be filled, and after filling to replace the lid, 5. a nozzle in communication with a media source and positioned to fill the empty microplates after their lids have been lifted off, and 6. an output chamber lifting mechanism for lifting all filled microplates in said at least one output stacking chamber to provide a space for recently filled microplates to be moved to a bottom position in said at least one stacking chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18)
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10. A method for sequentially filling a plurality of microplates, each microplate having a microplate lid, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) lifting via a input chamber lifting mechanism the plurality of empty microplates, wherein the plurality of empty microplates are stacked inside at least one input chamber, wherein said input chamber lifting mechanism is located adjacent to said at least one input chamber, wherein said lifting leaves behind a bottommost empty microplate, B) removing in sequence the plurality of microplates via a walking beam indexer from said at least one input chamber, wherein said walking beam indexer is attached to a linear actuator, C) removing in sequence via a lid lifter microplate lids from the plurality of empty microplates, wherein said lid lifter is attached to said linear actuator, D) filling in sequence the plurality of empty microplates via a nozzle mounted adjacent to said linear actuator, E) returning in sequence via said lid lifter the microplate lids to the plurality of filled microplates, and F) restacking via an output chamber lifting mechanism the plurality of filled microplates inside at least one output chamber, wherein said input chamber singulator, said linear actuator, said walking beam indexer, said lid lifter, said nozzle, and said output chamber lifting mechanism define a microplate filling assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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19. An automated machine for filling a plurality of microplates, each of said plurality of microplates having a microplate lid, said automated machine comprising:
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A) a means for stacking empty microplates, B) a means for stacking filled microplates, and C) a microplate filling assembly means disposed between said means for stacking empty microplates and said means for stacking filled microplates, comprising; 1. a lifting means for periodically lifting all microplates in said means for stacking empty microplates except a bottom microplate, 2. a linear actuator means, 3. a walking beam indexer means attached to said linear actuator means, driven by said linear actuator means and positioned to move empty microplates from said means for stacking empty microplates to said means for stacking filled microplates, 4. a lid lifter means attached to said linear actuator means, for lifting the lid off each microplate to permit the microplate to be filled, and after filling to replace the lid, 5. a nozzle means in communication with a media source and positioned to fill the empty microplates after their lids have been lifted off, and 6. an output chamber lifting means for lifting all filled microplates in said means for stacking filled microplates, to provide a space for recently filled microplates to be moved to a bottom position in said means for stacking filled microplates.
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Specification