EP0946881A1 - Pipette and handling automatic machine for microtitration plates with permeable bases - Google Patents

Pipette and handling automatic machine for microtitration plates with permeable bases

Info

Publication number
EP0946881A1
EP0946881A1 EP98952641A EP98952641A EP0946881A1 EP 0946881 A1 EP0946881 A1 EP 0946881A1 EP 98952641 A EP98952641 A EP 98952641A EP 98952641 A EP98952641 A EP 98952641A EP 0946881 A1 EP0946881 A1 EP 0946881A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pipetting
station
suction
handling machine
machine according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98952641A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Wolfgang Krämer
Uwe Naumann
Thomas Moore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cybio Instruments GmbH
Original Assignee
Jenoptik Jena GmbH
Jenoptik AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jenoptik Jena GmbH, Jenoptik AG filed Critical Jenoptik Jena GmbH
Publication of EP0946881A1 publication Critical patent/EP0946881A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5025—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures for parallel transport of multiple samples
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5025—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures for parallel transport of multiple samples
    • B01L3/50255—Multi-well filtration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
    • G01N2035/0401—Sample carriers, cuvettes or reaction vessels
    • G01N2035/0418—Plate elements with several rows of samples
    • G01N2035/0422—Plate elements with several rows of samples carried on a linear conveyor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
    • G01N2035/0401—Sample carriers, cuvettes or reaction vessels
    • G01N2035/0418—Plate elements with several rows of samples
    • G01N2035/0425—Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/0099—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor comprising robots or similar manipulators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/028—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an automatic pipetting and handling machine for microtitration plates with a permeable bottom, e.g. Filter or membrane base plates.
  • Microtitration plates with permeable bottoms have been used in screening laboratories for several years. There are a variety of products that differ in the type of soils and thus in their interaction with the liquid media in the so-called wells.
  • the liquid handling with these filter plates can essentially be described by the steps - filling the wells from above with liquid - and after a reaction time - suctioning down the liquid through the filter layer.
  • the filling step is carried out with classic hand-held pipettes or pipetting robots and does not differ from the way of working with microtitration plates in the conventional sense.
  • the suction step or the emptying of the wells does not take place via their openings, but is carried out on so-called suction stations through the bottom of the wells. These suction stations essentially have the following structure.
  • the filter plate is placed on a suction pan, which has a circumferential rubber seal in the contact area of the edge of the filter plate.
  • a vacuum device usually consists of a Woulff bottle for separating the liquid, a ventilation valve and a vacuum pump.
  • Manual processing is carried out as follows.
  • the filled filter plate is placed on the suction trough and pressed, at the same time the suction trough is subjected to negative pressure through its opening.
  • the automatic processing follows the manual process by either filling the filter plate directly from a pipetting robot on the suction station or, if the pipetting robot has a plate gripping mechanism, pipetting the plates and then placing them on the suction device for the time of suction.
  • the gripper arm it is possible to use the gripper arm to press the filter plate onto the suction station in order to allow it to be sucked tight and thus to build up the vacuum.
  • the forces that can be used for this are naturally low.
  • the possibility remains to apply the filter plate with a vacuum shock.
  • the throughput of such devices is limited by the number of needles available for liquid handling, known systems being equipped with one to eight needles.
  • the invention has for its object to show a compact arrangement with which filter plates can be removed, pipetted, aspirated and stored automatically, time-effectively and with high throughput from a storage system.
  • Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of a pipetting and handling machine according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a basic structure of a donor and storage stacker
  • Fig. 3 shows a basic structure of an automatic pipette
  • Fig. 4 shows a basic structure of a pressure station
  • the automatic pipetting and handling machine consists of a dispenser stacker 1, an automatic pipetting machine 2, a pressure station 3, a carriage 4 and a storage stacker 5.
  • the carriage 4 is guided and positioned horizontally via a rail system thus in its work steps, which can be subdivided as follows: a) initial position, ie with its right serving area in the dispenser stacker 1 for receiving the filter plate b) first intermediate position, ie with its right serving area in the pipetting machine 2 c) second intermediate position, ie with its left serving area in the pipetting machine 2 d) third intermediate position, ie with its left parting surface in the pressure station 3 e) fourth intermediate position, ie with its left storage surface in the automatic pipetting machine 2 f) fifth intermediate position, ie with its right storage surface in the automatic pipetting machine 2 g) end position, ie with its right storage surface in the storage stacker 5 for dispensing the filter plate, the connection between the units dispenser stacker 1, Automatic pipetting device
  • the trolley 4 has four storage areas lying next to one another, the storage area on the far right being reserved for receiving the filter plates, the storage area on the far left with a suction station 6, and the storage areas in between being occupied on the one hand with a vessel and on the other with a washing tub are.
  • the middle shelves could be dispensed with if, for example, a pipetting device were used, which can fill its pipettes from behind via a separate container and, on the other hand, changes their tips after each pipetting process so that rinsing can be omitted.
  • Dispenser stacker 1 in which the filter plates are stacked, is provided for the storage of filter plates.
  • These stackers are able to either place a filter plate on a trolley or pick it up from the trolley with the aid of a respective assigned lifter and a ratchet mechanism.
  • the pawls are controlled electromagnetically depending on the lifting height. According to the starting position of the car 4, it is covered with a filter plate on its rightmost storage surface by means of the lifter.
  • the carriage 4 moves into the first intermediate position and the lifter of the automatic pipetting device 2 lifts the filter plate horizontally up to the pipettes, so that the corresponding wells can be filled.
  • the lifter lowers the filled filter plate and transfers it to a plate holder 7, as can be seen in FIG. 3.
  • the lifter lowers further in its lower end position.
  • the carriage 4 moves into its second intermediate position and the lifter of the automatic pipetting device 2 lifts the suction station 6 up to the filter plate.
  • the plate holder 7 releases the filter plate again and the lifter moves down to its starting position and thus places the suction station 6 with the filter plate above it on the carriage 4.
  • the carriage now moves to the third intermediate position in the pressure station 3.
  • the pressure station 3 consists, according to FIG.
  • the lifter of the pressure station 3 lifts and presses the suction station with the filter plate attached to the contact surface, so that a sealing effect between the filter plate and suction station 6 is achieved before the vacuum is applied.
  • the contact surface exerts a counterforce to the lifter on the filter plate from above and, as can be seen from FIG. 4, can consist of a stored weight. An embodiment not shown is conceivable in that the lifter presses on the filter plate from above and thus achieves the necessary sealing effect.
  • the carriage 4 assumes the fifth intermediate position, the lifter is brought up to the filter plate, the plate holder 7 releases the filter plate again and the lifter assumes its starting position, thereby placing the filter plate on the carriage 4. Now the carriage 4 moves into its end position and thus comes to a stop in the storage stacker 5. The lifter of the storage stacker 5 detects the filter plate and places it in the storage stacker 5.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for filling and suction of filter plates in a microtitration plate format which is comprised of a simultaneously working multipipette, two stacking elements, a plate transfer car with a suction station, four lifting drives, and an electric plate holder. The invention is characterized in that the plates emanating from the dispensing stacking element are filled by the pipettes of the pipette automatic machine and can be deposited on the suction station afterwards with the aid of the plate holder and the lifter. Said plates are then lifted together with the weight such that the plate is sufficiently pressed hard on the seal in the suction station. As a result, a corresponding low pressure can be generated in the vacuum station.

Description

Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat für Mikrotitrationsplatten mit permeablen BodenAutomatic pipetting and handling machine for microtitration plates with permeable bottom
Die Er indung betrifft ein Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat für Mikrotitrationsplatten mit permeablen Boden, z.B. Filter- bzw. Membranbodenplatten.The invention relates to an automatic pipetting and handling machine for microtitration plates with a permeable bottom, e.g. Filter or membrane base plates.
Mikrotitrationsplatten mit permeablen Böden sind seit einigen Jahren in Screeninglaboratorien im Einsatz. Es gibt eine Vielzahl von Produkten, die sich in der Art der Böden und damit in ihrer Wechselwirkung mit den in den sogenannten Wells befindlichen flüssigen Medien unterscheiden. Das Liquidhandling mit diesen Filterplatten kann im wesentlichen mit den Schritten - Füllen der Wells von oben mit Flüssigkeit - und nach einer Reaktionszeit - Absaugen nach unten der Flüssigkeit durch die Filterschicht hindurch - beschrieben werden. Der Befüllschritt wird mit klassischen Handpipetten oder Pipettierrobotern ausgeführt und unterscheidet sich nicht von der Arbeitsweise mit Mikrotitrationsplatten im herkömmlichen Sinn. Der Absaugschritt bzw. die Entleerung der Wells erfolgt nicht über deren Öffnungen, sondern wird auf sogenannten Absaugstationen durch den Boden der Wells durchgeführt. Diese Absaugstationen haben im wesentlichen den folgenden Aufbau. Die Filterplatte wird auf eine Absaugwanne abgelegt, die im Auflagebereich des Randes der Filterplatte eine umlaufende Gummidichtung aufweist. Am Boden der Absaugwanne befindet sich eine Öffnung, die mit einer Vakuumeinrichtung verbunden ist. Diese Vakuumeinrichtung besteht zumeist aus einer Woulffschen Flasche zum Abscheiden der Flüssigkeit, einem Belüftungsventil und einer Vakuumpumpe. Bei manueller Abarbeitung wird wie folgt vorgegangen. Die befüllte Filterplatte wird auf die Absaugwanne abgelegt und angedrückt, gleichzeitig wird die Absaugwanne über ihre Öffnung mit Unterdruck beaufschlagt. Dabei ist es in Abhängigkeit der Ausführungform der Filterplatte nicht unerheblich, ob der Unterdruck durch Einschalten einer Pumpe langsam aufgebaut wird oder durch Zuschalten des Vakuums mit Nenndruck schlagartig erfolgt. Die automatische Abarbeitung folgt dem manuellem Ablauf, indem entweder die Filterplatte von einem Pipettierroboter direkt auf der Absaugstation befüllt wird oder aber sofern der Pipettierroboter über einen Plattengreifmechanismus verfügt, die Platten pipettiert und danach auf die Absaugvorrichtung für die Zeit des Absaugens absetzt. Im letzten der beiden Fälle besteht die Möglichkeit, mit dem Greifarm die Filterplatte auf die Saugstation zu drücken, um das Festsaugen und damit den Aufbau des Vakuums zu ermöglichen. Naturgemäß sind die dafür anwendbaren Kräfte gering. Im ersten der beiden Fälle verbleibt die Möglichkeit, mit einem Vakuumschock die Filterplatte anzulegen. Der Durchsatz solcher Geräte ist durch die Zahl der für das Liquidhandling zur Verfügung stehenden Nadeln eingeschränkt, wobei bekannte Systeme mit ein bis acht Nadeln bestückt sind.Microtitration plates with permeable bottoms have been used in screening laboratories for several years. There are a variety of products that differ in the type of soils and thus in their interaction with the liquid media in the so-called wells. The liquid handling with these filter plates can essentially be described by the steps - filling the wells from above with liquid - and after a reaction time - suctioning down the liquid through the filter layer. The filling step is carried out with classic hand-held pipettes or pipetting robots and does not differ from the way of working with microtitration plates in the conventional sense. The suction step or the emptying of the wells does not take place via their openings, but is carried out on so-called suction stations through the bottom of the wells. These suction stations essentially have the following structure. The filter plate is placed on a suction pan, which has a circumferential rubber seal in the contact area of the edge of the filter plate. At the bottom of the suction pan there is an opening which is connected to a vacuum device. This vacuum device usually consists of a Woulff bottle for separating the liquid, a ventilation valve and a vacuum pump. Manual processing is carried out as follows. The filled filter plate is placed on the suction trough and pressed, at the same time the suction trough is subjected to negative pressure through its opening. Depending on the design of the filter plate, it is not irrelevant whether the negative pressure is slowly built up by switching on a pump or whether it suddenly occurs by switching on the vacuum at nominal pressure. The automatic processing follows the manual process by either filling the filter plate directly from a pipetting robot on the suction station or, if the pipetting robot has a plate gripping mechanism, pipetting the plates and then placing them on the suction device for the time of suction. In the last of the two cases, it is possible to use the gripper arm to press the filter plate onto the suction station in order to allow it to be sucked tight and thus to build up the vacuum. The forces that can be used for this are naturally low. In the first of the two cases, the possibility remains to apply the filter plate with a vacuum shock. The throughput of such devices is limited by the number of needles available for liquid handling, known systems being equipped with one to eight needles.
Darüber hinaus sind Systeme mit integriertem Greifer vergleichsweise groß und langsam. Die Größe eines solchen Gerätes ist von Belang, weil es vielfach notwendig ist, den oben beschriebenen Prozeß in einer mit einer laminaren Luftströmung geschützten Werkbank auszuführen.In addition, systems with an integrated gripper are comparatively large and slow. The size of such a device is important because it is often necessary to carry out the process described above in a workbench protected with a laminar air flow.
Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine kompakte Anordnung aufzuzeigen, mit der Filterplatten automatisch, zeiteffektiv und mit hohem Durchsatz aus einem Vorratssystem entnommen, pipettiert, abgesaugt und gespeichert werden können.The invention has for its object to show a compact arrangement with which filter plates can be removed, pipetted, aspirated and stored automatically, time-effectively and with high throughput from a storage system.
Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die kennzeichnenden Merkmale des Patentanspruches 1 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen ergeben sich aus den Patentansprüchen 2 bis 8.This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements result from patent claims 2 to 8.
Die Erfindung soll nachstehend anhand von Zeichnungen näher erläutert werden. Dabei zeigtThe invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. It shows
Fig. 1 einen Prinzipaufbau eines erfindungsgemäßen Pipettier- und HandlingsautomatenFig. 1 shows a basic structure of a pipetting and handling machine according to the invention
Fig. 2 einen Prinzipaufbau eines Spender- und SpeicherstackersFig. 2 shows a basic structure of a donor and storage stacker
Fig. 3 einen Prinzipaufbau eines PipettierautomatenFig. 3 shows a basic structure of an automatic pipette
Fig. 4 einen Prinzipaufbau einer AndruckstationFig. 4 shows a basic structure of a pressure station
Gemäß Fig.1 besteht der Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat aus einem Spenderstacker 1 , einem Pipettierautomaten 2, einer Andruckstation 3, einem Wagen 4 und einem Speicherstacker 5. Der Wagen 4 wird, wie aus Fig. 1 ersichtlich, über ein Schienensystem horizontal geführt und stellt somit in seinen Arbeitsschritten, die wie folgt untergliedert werden können a) Ausgangsstellung, d.h. mit seiner rechten Absteilfläche im Spenderstacker 1 zur Aufnahme der Filterplatte b) erste Zwischenstellung, d.h. mit seiner rechten Absteilfläche im Pipettierautomaten 2 c) zweite Zwischenstellung, d.h. mit seiner linken Absteilfläche im Pipettierautomaten 2 d) dritte Zwischenstellung, d.h. mit seiner linken Absteilfläche in der Andruckstation 3 e) vierte Zwischenstellung, d.h. mit seiner linken Abstellfläche im Pipettierautomaten 2 f) fünfte Zwischenstellung, d.h. mit seiner rechten Abstellfläche im Pipettierautomaten 2 g) Endstellung, d.h. mit seiner rechten Abstellfläche im Speicherstacker 5 zur Abgabe der Filterplatte die Verbindung zwischen den Einheiten Spenderstacker 1 , Pipettierautomat 2, Andruckstation 3 und Speicherstacker 5 her. Der Wagen 4 besitzt in dieser Ausführungsform vier nebeneinander liegende Abstellflächen, wobei die äußerst rechte Abstellfläche zur Aufnahme der Filterplatten reserviert ist, die äußerst linke Abstellfläche mit einer Absaugstation 6, und die dazwischen liegenden Abstellflächen zum einem mit einem Gefäß und zum anderen mit einer Spülwanne belegt sind. Auf die mittleren Abstellflächen könnte insofern verzichtet werden, wenn zum Beispiel eine Pipettiervorrichtung zum Einsatz käme, die ihre Pipetten von hinten über ein gesondertes Gefäß auffüllen kann und zum anderen ihre Spitzen nach jedem Pipettiervorgang wechselt, so daß die Spülung entfallen kann.According to FIG. 1, the automatic pipetting and handling machine consists of a dispenser stacker 1, an automatic pipetting machine 2, a pressure station 3, a carriage 4 and a storage stacker 5. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the carriage 4 is guided and positioned horizontally via a rail system thus in its work steps, which can be subdivided as follows: a) initial position, ie with its right serving area in the dispenser stacker 1 for receiving the filter plate b) first intermediate position, ie with its right serving area in the pipetting machine 2 c) second intermediate position, ie with its left serving area in the pipetting machine 2 d) third intermediate position, ie with its left parting surface in the pressure station 3 e) fourth intermediate position, ie with its left storage surface in the automatic pipetting machine 2 f) fifth intermediate position, ie with its right storage surface in the automatic pipetting machine 2 g) end position, ie with its right storage surface in the storage stacker 5 for dispensing the filter plate, the connection between the units dispenser stacker 1, Automatic pipetting device 2, pressure station 3 and storage stacker 5. In this embodiment, the trolley 4 has four storage areas lying next to one another, the storage area on the far right being reserved for receiving the filter plates, the storage area on the far left with a suction station 6, and the storage areas in between being occupied on the one hand with a vessel and on the other with a washing tub are. The middle shelves could be dispensed with if, for example, a pipetting device were used, which can fill its pipettes from behind via a separate container and, on the other hand, changes their tips after each pipetting process so that rinsing can be omitted.
Für die Bevorratung von Filterplatten ist der Spenderstacker 1 vorgesehen, in dem die Filterplatten aufgestapelt sind. Ein zweiter, Speicherstacker 5, identisch aufgebauter Stacker unmittelbar neben den Spenderstacker 1 , gemäß Fig.1 , angeordnet dient der Speicherung der fertiggestellten Filterplatten. Diese Stacker sind in der Lage, mit Hilfe eines jeweils ihnen zugeordneten Aushebers und eines Klinkenmechanismusses entweder eine Filterplatte auf einen Wagen abzusetzen oder vom Wagen aufzunehmen. Die Steuerung der Klinken erfolgt in Abhängigkeit der Ausheberhöhe elektromagnetisch. Gemäß der Ausgangsstellung des Wagens 4 wird er mittels des Aushebers mit einer Filterplatte auf seiner rechten äußersten Abstellfläche belegt. Danach fährt der Wagen 4 in die erste Zwischenstellung und der Ausheber des Pipettierautomaten 2 hebt die Filterplatte horizontal bis an die Pipetten an, so daß die entsprechenden Wells gefüllt werden können. Nach dem Füllvorgang senkt der Ausheber die gefüllte Filterplatte ab und übergibt diese einem, wie aus Fig. 3 ersichtlich, Plattenhalter 7. Der Ausheber senkt sich weiter in seiner unteren Endlage ab. Nunmehr fährt der Wagen 4 in seine zweite Zwischenstellung und der Ausheber des Pipettierautomaten 2 hebt die Absaugstation 6 bis an die Filterplatte. Der Plattenhalter 7 gibt die Filterplatte wieder frei und der Ausheber fährt nach unten in seine Ausgangsstellung und legt damit die Absaugstation 6 mit der darüberliegenden Filterplatte auf den Wagen 4 ab. Der Wagen fährt nunmehr zur dritten Zwischenstellung in die Andruckstation 3. Die Andruckstation 3 besteht dabei, gemäß Fig. 4, aus einem unter der Führungsbahn des Wagens 4 befindlichen Ausheber und einer Anlagefläche, die sich über dem Ausheber in einer Höhe befindet, so daß der mit Absaugstation 6 und darüberliegenden Filterplatte beladene Wagen 4 darunter fahren bzw. geführt werden kann. Der Ausheber der Andruckstation 3 hebt und drückt die Absaugstation mit aufgesetzter Filterplatte gegen die Anlagefläche, so daß vor dem Anlegen des Vakuums eine Dichtwirkung zwischen Filterplatte und Absaugstation 6 erreicht wird. Die Anlagefläche übt von oben eine Gegenkraft zum Ausheber auf die Filterplatte aus und kann, wie aus Fig. 4 ersichtlich, aus einem gelagerten Gewicht bestehen. Eine nicht abgebildete Ausführungsform ist denkbar, indem der Ausheber von oben auf die Filterplatte drückt und somit die notwendige Dichtwirkung erzielt. Das notwendige Vakuum wird, gemäß Fig. 1 , mit den wesentlichen Einheiten Absaugschlauch 9, Schlauchführungsrolle 10, Schlauchgewicht 1 1 , Belüftungsventil 12, Woulffsche Flasche und Vakuumpumpe 14 erzielt, indem die Vakuumpumpe 14 gestartet wird. Nach einer entsprechenden Saugzeit wird die Absaugwanne über das Belüftungsventil 12 belüftet. Nachdem der Absaugvorgang beendet ist, geht der Ausheber der Andruckstation 3 in seine Ausgangslage zurück und legt dabei die Absaugstation 6 mit der entleerten Filterplatte auf den Wagen 4 ab, so daß dieser die vierte Zwischenstellung einnimmt. Der Ausheber des Pipettierautomaten 2 hebt die Absaugstation 6 mit darüberliegender Filterplatte bis zum Plattenhalter 7 an, dieser hält die Filterplatte, der Ausheber senkt sich in seine Ausgangsstellung und legt dabei die Absaugstation 6 auf den Wagen 4 ab. Der Wagen 4 nimmt die fünfte Zwischenstellung ein, der Ausheber wird an die Filterplatte herangeführt, der Plattenhalter 7 gibt die Filterplatte wieder frei und der Ausheber nimmt seine Ausgangsstellung ein, wobei er dabei die Filterplatte auf dem Wagen 4 ablegt. Nunmehr begibt sich der Wagen 4 in seine Endstellung und kommt somit im Speicherstacker 5 zum Stehen. Der Ausheber des Speicherstackers 5 erfaßt die Filterplatte und legt sie im Speicherstacker 5 ab. Dispenser stacker 1, in which the filter plates are stacked, is provided for the storage of filter plates. A second, storage stacker 5, identically constructed stacker arranged directly next to the dispenser stacker 1, according to FIG. 1, serves to store the finished filter plates. These stackers are able to either place a filter plate on a trolley or pick it up from the trolley with the aid of a respective assigned lifter and a ratchet mechanism. The pawls are controlled electromagnetically depending on the lifting height. According to the starting position of the car 4, it is covered with a filter plate on its rightmost storage surface by means of the lifter. Then the carriage 4 moves into the first intermediate position and the lifter of the automatic pipetting device 2 lifts the filter plate horizontally up to the pipettes, so that the corresponding wells can be filled. After the filling process, the lifter lowers the filled filter plate and transfers it to a plate holder 7, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The lifter lowers further in its lower end position. Now the carriage 4 moves into its second intermediate position and the lifter of the automatic pipetting device 2 lifts the suction station 6 up to the filter plate. The plate holder 7 releases the filter plate again and the lifter moves down to its starting position and thus places the suction station 6 with the filter plate above it on the carriage 4. The carriage now moves to the third intermediate position in the pressure station 3. The pressure station 3 consists, according to FIG. 4, of one under the Guideway of the carriage 4 located lifter and a contact surface, which is located above the lifter at a height so that the carriage 4 loaded with suction station 6 and filter plate above it can drive or be guided underneath. The lifter of the pressure station 3 lifts and presses the suction station with the filter plate attached to the contact surface, so that a sealing effect between the filter plate and suction station 6 is achieved before the vacuum is applied. The contact surface exerts a counterforce to the lifter on the filter plate from above and, as can be seen from FIG. 4, can consist of a stored weight. An embodiment not shown is conceivable in that the lifter presses on the filter plate from above and thus achieves the necessary sealing effect. 1, with the essential units of suction hose 9, hose guide roller 10, hose weight 11, ventilation valve 12, Woulff bottle and vacuum pump 14, the necessary vacuum is achieved by starting the vacuum pump 14. After a corresponding suction time, the suction pan is ventilated via the ventilation valve 12. After the suction process has ended, the lifter of the pressure station 3 returns to its starting position and places the suction station 6 with the emptied filter plate on the carriage 4, so that it assumes the fourth intermediate position. The lifter of the pipetting machine 2 lifts the suction station 6 with the filter plate above it up to the plate holder 7, this holds the filter plate, the lifter lowers into its starting position and places the suction station 6 on the carriage 4. The carriage 4 assumes the fifth intermediate position, the lifter is brought up to the filter plate, the plate holder 7 releases the filter plate again and the lifter assumes its starting position, thereby placing the filter plate on the carriage 4. Now the carriage 4 moves into its end position and thus comes to a stop in the storage stacker 5. The lifter of the storage stacker 5 detects the filter plate and places it in the storage stacker 5.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat für Mikrotitrationsplatten mit permeablen Boden dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dieser einen auf einer horizontalen Führungsbahn verfahrbaren Wagen (4) enthält, wobei entlang der Führungsbahn ein Spenderstacker (1), ein Speicherstacker (5), ein Pipettierautomat (2) und eine Andruckstation (3) angeordnet sind und daß der Wagen eine Absaugstation (6) aufweist.1. pipetting and handling machine for microtitration plates with permeable bottom, characterized in that it contains a movable carriage on a horizontal guideway (4), along the guideway a dispenser stacker (1), a storage stacker (5), a pipetting machine (2) and a pressure station (3) are arranged and that the carriage has a suction station (6).
2. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Absaugstation (6) mit einem Vakuum erzeugenden System in Verbindung steht.2. Pipetting and handling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction station (6) is connected to a vacuum generating system.
3. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Vakuum erzeugenden System aus einem Absaugschlauch (9), einer3. pipetting and handling machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the vacuum generating system from a suction hose (9), one
Schlauchführungsrolle (10), einem Schlauchgewicht (1 1 ), einem Belüftungsventil (12), einer Woulffschen Flasche (13) und einer Vakuumpumpe (14) besteht.Hose guide roller (10), a hose weight (1 1), a ventilation valve (12), a Woulff bottle (13) and a vacuum pump (14).
4. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Andruckstation (6) aus einem unter der Führungsbahn des Wagens (4) befindlichen Ausheber und einer Anlagefläche besteht, die sich über dem Ausheber in einer Höhe befindet, so daß der mit der Absaugstation (6) und darüberliegenden Filterplatte beladene Wagen (4) darunter fahren kann.4. pipetting and handling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure station (6) consists of a below the guideway of the carriage (4) located lifter and a contact surface which is above the lifter at a height so that the the suction station (6) and overlying filter plate loaded trolleys (4) can drive underneath.
5. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anlagefläche als ein gelagertes Gewicht ausgebildet ist.5. pipetting and handling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact surface is designed as a stored weight.
6. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anlagefläche als horizontal feste Anlagefläche ausgebildet ist.6. pipetting and handling machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact surface is designed as a horizontally fixed contact surface.
7. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Wagen (4) vier nebeneinander befindliche Abstellflächen aufweist, wobei die eine äußere Abstellfläche mit der abhebbaren Absaugstation (6) belegt ist und die andere äußere Abstellfläche zur Aufnahme der Filterplatten reserviert ist und die eine der dazwischen liegenden Abstellfläche für ein7. pipetting and handling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (4) has four adjacent storage surfaces, the one outer storage surface with the removable suction station (6) is occupied and the other outer storage surface is reserved for receiving the filter plates and one of the shelves in between for one
Flüssigkeitsvorratsgefäß und die andere Abstellfläche für eine Waschstation vorgesehen ist. Pipettier- und Handlingsautomat nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Wagen (4) eine linke und eine rechte Abstellfläche aufweist, wobei eine von beiden mit der Absaugstation (6) belegt ist und die andere zur Aufnahme der Filterplatten vorgesehen ist. Liquid storage vessel and the other storage space is provided for a washing station. Automatic pipetting and handling machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (4) has a left and a right storage surface, one of the two being occupied by the suction station (6) and the other being provided for receiving the filter plates.
EP98952641A 1997-10-21 1998-09-24 Pipette and handling automatic machine for microtitration plates with permeable bases Withdrawn EP0946881A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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DE19746455A DE19746455C1 (en) 1997-10-21 1997-10-21 Automatic pipetting and handling device for microtitration plates with permeable bottoms
DE19746455 1997-10-21
PCT/EP1998/006089 WO1999021016A1 (en) 1997-10-21 1998-09-24 Pipette and handling automatic machine for microtitration plates with permeable bases

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