Pipettor system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a pipetting chamber having a ceiling within the pipetting chamber;
docking a set of pipettor cartridges on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber;
providing a tray dock movably mounted within the pipetting chamber;
providing a gantry system mounted on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system having at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track;
transporting, with a carrier, each pipettor cartridge of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, where the carrier moves each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions;
controlling movement, with a control system coupled with the pipetting chamber, of the carrier along the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and
moving the tray dock within the pipetting chamber relative to the pipetting location, where the tray dock has more than one tray dock sections each being separate and distinct from each other and each of the more than one tray dock sections docks with a different corresponding pipetting tray; and
swapping the different corresponding pipetting trays at the pipetting location by moving each of the more than one tray dock sections past each other relative to the pipetting location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments include a system having a pipetting chamber, a set of pipettor cartridges docked in the pipetting chamber, a gantry system mounted on a ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system including at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track, and a carrier configured to transport each of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, the carrier configured to move each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a pipetting chamber having a ceiling within the pipetting chamber; docking a set of pipettor cartridges on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber; providing a tray dock movably mounted within the pipetting chamber; providing a gantry system mounted on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system having at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track; transporting, with a carrier, each pipettor cartridge of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, where the carrier moves each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions; controlling movement, with a control system coupled with the pipetting chamber, of the carrier along the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and moving the tray dock within the pipetting chamber relative to the pipetting location, where the tray dock has more than one tray dock sections each being separate and distinct from each other and each of the more than one tray dock sections docks with a different corresponding pipetting tray; and swapping the different corresponding pipetting trays at the pipetting location by moving each of the more than one tray dock sections past each other relative to the pipetting location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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providing a pipetting chamber having a ceiling within the pipetting chamber; docking a set of pipettor cartridges on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber providing a tray dock movably mounted within the pipetting chamber; providing a gantry system mounted on the ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system having at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track; transporting, with a carrier, each pipettor cartridge of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, where the carrier moves each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions, and where the carrier moves completely circumferentially about the set of pipettor cartridges docked on the ceiling; controlling movement, with a control system coupled with the pipetting chamber, of the carrier along the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and moving the tray dock within the pipetting chamber relative to the pipetting location, where the tray dock has more than one tray dock sections each being separate and distinct from each other and each of the more than one tray dock sections docks with a different corresponding pipetting tray; and swapping the different corresponding pipetting trays at the pipetting location by moving each of the more than one tray dock sections past each other relative to the pipetting location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification