Plate locator for precision liquid handler
First Claim
1. A plate locator for positioning and holding a four sided plate having an array of sample containing wells, such as a microplate, on a work bed of a precision liquid handler having at least one probe for registration with at least one well of the plate, said plate locator apparatus comprising:
- a flat, planar locator bed adapted to be secured to the work bed of the precision liquid handler;
a plate receiving nest on said locator bed, said nest having four sides corresponding to the four sides of the four sided plate;
said nest including rigid stop members extending up from said bed on first and second sides of said nest;
said nest including movably mounted holders extending up from said bed at third and fourth sides of said nest opposite said rigid stop members at said first and second sides of said nest; and
resilient biasing elements connected between said bed and each of said movably mounted holders for urging said holders toward the center of said nest.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A locator bed has nests where sample well containing plates are held and positioned for accessing by probes moved by an X-Y-Z positioning system. Each nest includes stop posts at two sides of a rectangular base of a plate, and biasing posts at the opposed two sides. The stop posts and the biasing posts have tapered upper guide portions for guiding a descending plate into position and cylindrical lower portions receiving the base of the plate in a seated position. The stop posts are located on the surface of the locator bed by conical seat portions. The biasing posts are placed over studs fastened to the bed surface, and hoop springs are captured between the studs and the biasing posts.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A plate locator for positioning and holding a four sided plate having an array of sample containing wells, such as a microplate, on a work bed of a precision liquid handler having at least one probe for registration with at least one well of the plate, said plate locator apparatus comprising:
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a flat, planar locator bed adapted to be secured to the work bed of the precision liquid handler;
a plate receiving nest on said locator bed, said nest having four sides corresponding to the four sides of the four sided plate;
said nest including rigid stop members extending up from said bed on first and second sides of said nest;
said nest including movably mounted holders extending up from said bed at third and fourth sides of said nest opposite said rigid stop members at said first and second sides of said nest; and
resilient biasing elements connected between said bed and each of said movably mounted holders for urging said holders toward the center of said nest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification