WO2002021144A1 - Plate handling mechanism - Google Patents

Plate handling mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002021144A1
WO2002021144A1 PCT/SE2001/001930 SE0101930W WO0221144A1 WO 2002021144 A1 WO2002021144 A1 WO 2002021144A1 SE 0101930 W SE0101930 W SE 0101930W WO 0221144 A1 WO0221144 A1 WO 0221144A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
plate
plates
microtitre
stack
cassette
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2001/001930
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Spencer Harper
Michael Caldwell
Antony Evans
Lee Farner
Original Assignee
Astrazeneca Ab
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 Astrazeneca Ab filed Critical Astrazeneca Ab
Priority to AU2001284614A priority Critical patent/AU2001284614A1/en
Publication of WO2002021144A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002021144A1/en

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a mechanism for providing a plate from a stack or cassette thereof.
  • the plates may particularly, but not exclusively, be of the type, which consist of planar object, which have a series of indents therein.
  • the term plate is held to include plates, trays and other planar objects, which can be separately manipulated. These objects may or may not have a series of indents therein. They may, for example, have traces of substance smeared on the surface thereof. They may contain indents, which are used to hold other containers such as small test tubes. The indents or test tubes may be used to contain compounds.
  • Such plates may be provided in a stack, which consists of a number of vertically arranged plates. Such stacks may be confined by means of vertical members to ensure that the stack is stable. Such a stack may be termed a cassette or cartridge. It is also known to provide an associated movement mechanism to enable one or more of the plates to be removed from and returned to a stack. Such stacks and their associated movement mechanism are widely employed in high throughput screening equipment utilized in the drug discovery process. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates that the cassettes may be utilized for other purposes.
  • the plates may be known as microtitre plates. Such plates are available in 96, 384 and 1536 well versions. Stacks conspires a variable number of plates but generally do not exceed 50 in number. There are a number of cassette stacks and cassette stack mechanisms available. The intention of such devices is to provide for the storage of cassettes when they are not being utilized, for example, in high throughput testing, when then are waiting for the compounds contained therein to be tested, or when the compounds have been tested. However these are passive systems in that that merely provide means for confining a stack of cassettes and allowing the removal of a particular cassette. The cassette is not actively ejected from the stack. In known mechanisms a separate return stack is provided for the used or returned cassettes.
  • cassettes are provided initially in a first stack and finish, at least intermenly, in a second stack. A further operation is required to return the cassettes to their original stack. This is, of course time, consuming and provides additional opportunities for errors or breakdowns to occur.
  • the form of the stack and the mechanism vary by manufacturer type, in details such as the number of cassettes provide and the exact form of support for the stack, but are all based on the requirement of a separate out and return stacks.
  • the stacks are provided as cartridges, that is a stack can be handled as a unit. For example a cartridge may allow a used stack to be removed and replaced by an unused one. In this system as in all current systems an empty stack or cartridge must be provided to allow used cassettes or cassettes which are not required to be positioned at least as an interim measure. This, of course, requires additional space.
  • Known forms of stack and stack mechanism passively download a cassette under gravity, that is a cassette in removed from the bottom of a stack, usually by means of a slot provided in vertical members which confine the cassettes.
  • the cassettes are returned to the top of a separate stack, that is the are merely dropped onto another stack. It will be appreciated that in cases as mentioned above an interim stack is used a cassette maybe dropped onto a stack containing none or few cassettes. In this case there is opportunity for the dropped cassette to misalign as it falls.
  • a robot or robot arm is used to remove or dispense a plate from a stack, optionally, move the plate to a test location and return the plate to either an interim or a final destination.
  • a known such robotic system is the CRS F3 robot.
  • Robotic arm systems generally interface with a carousel were each plate is held separately on a shelf to remove these reliability problems, but they require time to load, often by hand, and use a large footprint.
  • Known plate holding cassettes include one produced by Carl Creative Systems (Packard Bio-instruments).
  • the stack of plates is of the microtitre type.
  • the means to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
  • the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram.
  • the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
  • the plate to be removed is translated to a location where the plate is processed.
  • the plate is translated to a location where it is further moved by for example by means of a robot.
  • the removed plate is returned to the top of the remaining stack.
  • the present invention may also be said to consist in a high throughput compound tester wherein plates having a plurality of compounds to be tested are provided in a stack, the stack being confined within vertical members, the tester including a mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates.
  • the stack of plates is of the microtitre type.
  • the means to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
  • the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram.
  • the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
  • the plate to be removed is translated to a location where the compounds on the plate are tested.
  • the plate is translated to a location where it is further moved by for example by means of a robot.
  • the removed plate is returned to the top of the remaining stack.
  • the present invention may also be said to consist in a high throughput compound tester wherein plates having a plurality of compounds to be tested are provided in a stack, the stack being confined within vertical members, the tester including a mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates and means to return the plate to the top of the remaining stack of plates.
  • the present invention may also be said to comprise a method of removing a microtitre plate from a cassette of vertically stacked series of such microtitre plates, the method comprising the steps of: gripping the lower surface of the microtitre plate to be removed; lowering the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; supporting the remaining stack of microtitre plates; and translating the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of microtitre plates.
  • the method of removing a microtitre plate further comprising the step of translating the removed microtitrre plate to a location where the plate is processed.
  • Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one preferred form of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a front fragmentary elevation of another preferred form of the present invention
  • Figure 3 shows a fragmentary back elevation of the form of the invention as shown in figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a fragmentary side elevation of the form of the invention as shown in figures 2 and 3.
  • a stack 2 is provided of plates.
  • the plates for example 3, 4 and 5 may in particular but not exclusively, be of the type, which consist of planar objects, which have a series of indents therein.
  • the term plate is held to include plates, trays and other planar objects, which can be separately manipulated.
  • These objects may or may not have a series of indents therein. They may, for example, have traces of substance smeared on the surface thereof. They may contain indents, which are used to hold other containers such as small test tubes.
  • the indents or test tubes may be used to contain compounds or other substances, which are to tested or otherwise, processed.
  • Such plates are provided in a stack 2, which consists of a number of vertically arranged plates 3 and 4 plus, the unlabelled, but illustrated intermediate plates.
  • a stack 2 may be confined by means of vertical members (not illustrated in figure 1 for the purposes of clarity) to ensure that the stack 2 is stable.
  • Such a stack may be termed a cassette or cartridge.
  • Such stacks 2 and their associated movement mechanism are widely employed in high throughput screening equipment utilized in the drug discovery process. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates that the cassettes may be utilized for other purposes.
  • the first preferred form of the invention provides means 6 to support the lower surface of the stack 2.
  • Such means 6 may consist of a catch or a hinged member which supports the one two or more lower edges of the lowest plate 3 in the stack 2.
  • the purpose of the means 6 is to support the lower most plate 3 and hence the stack to ensure that it does not translate vertically. It must however allow the lower most plate 3 to be removed when it is desired to do so.
  • Means 7 are always provided to grip or hold the lower most plate 3 and to translate it vertically downwards.
  • the means 7 consists of means to grip the lower most surface of the lower most plate 3, in this case consisting of a planar member 8 having a vacuum therein.
  • the member 8 is placed in contact with the lower surface of the lower most plate 3 and the vacuum draws the surface to the member thus gripping the lower most plate 3.
  • the member 8 is translated by means of a pneumatic ram 9.
  • the ram 9 provides vertical movement of the member both to allow it to rise into contact with the lower most surface of the lower most plate 3 and to lower the plate 3 (once the means 6 to support the lower surface of the stack is released).
  • Means 10 to translate the lower most plate 3 are also provided.
  • such means comprises a pneumatic ram which simply pushes or translates the plate to be removed or lower most plate 3 away from the stack of plates 2.
  • the plate to be removed or lower most plate slides along supporting means 11 to a distal end 12 thereof.
  • the compounds which are preferably present on the plate 3 maybe subjected to testing.
  • the plate 3 is preferably further dealt with at the distal end 12, for example a robot maybe utilised to further move the plate 3 to a different location at which the compounds present on the plate are tested or otherwise dealt with.
  • a robot maybe utilised to further move the plate 3 to a different location at which the compounds present on the plate are tested or otherwise dealt with.
  • FIGS 2 to 4 show another preferred form of the present invention in which means 13 are provided to contain the stack 2 and thus improve stability.
  • Such means 13 may comprise vertical members, which align the stack 2 but allow individual plates to move vertically downwards as required.
  • a single cassette or stack of plates 2 are used with a down stack for access, followed by the return of the plate 3 to the top 4 of the stack 2 by the robot.
  • the plate 3 is presented to the robot, which is preferably present, in a constant position 12

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

A mechanism for removing a plate from a cassette of vertically stacked series of plates, for example microtitre palest is provided. The stack is confined within vertical members and the mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates. A method of removing the bottom plate of a stack of plates is provided, as is a method of analyzing compounds using the mechanism or method.

Description

PLATE HANDLING MECHANISM
This invention relates to a mechanism for providing a plate from a stack or cassette thereof.
The plates may particularly, but not exclusively, be of the type, which consist of planar object, which have a series of indents therein. Herein the term plate is held to include plates, trays and other planar objects, which can be separately manipulated. These objects may or may not have a series of indents therein. They may, for example, have traces of substance smeared on the surface thereof. They may contain indents, which are used to hold other containers such as small test tubes. The indents or test tubes may be used to contain compounds.
Such plates may be provided in a stack, which consists of a number of vertically arranged plates. Such stacks may be confined by means of vertical members to ensure that the stack is stable. Such a stack may be termed a cassette or cartridge. It is also known to provide an associated movement mechanism to enable one or more of the plates to be removed from and returned to a stack. Such stacks and their associated movement mechanism are widely employed in high throughput screening equipment utilized in the drug discovery process. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates that the cassettes may be utilized for other purposes.
In the case of high throughput screening the plates may be known as microtitre plates. Such plates are available in 96, 384 and 1536 well versions. Stacks conspires a variable number of plates but generally do not exceed 50 in number. There are a number of cassette stacks and cassette stack mechanisms available. The intention of such devices is to provide for the storage of cassettes when they are not being utilized, for example, in high throughput testing, when then are waiting for the compounds contained therein to be tested, or when the compounds have been tested. However these are passive systems in that that merely provide means for confining a stack of cassettes and allowing the removal of a particular cassette. The cassette is not actively ejected from the stack. In known mechanisms a separate return stack is provided for the used or returned cassettes. That is the cassettes are provided initially in a first stack and finish, at least intermenly, in a second stack. A further operation is required to return the cassettes to their original stack. This is, of course time, consuming and provides additional opportunities for errors or breakdowns to occur.
The form of the stack and the mechanism vary by manufacturer type, in details such as the number of cassettes provide and the exact form of support for the stack, but are all based on the requirement of a separate out and return stacks. In some known forms the stacks are provided as cartridges, that is a stack can be handled as a unit. For example a cartridge may allow a used stack to be removed and replaced by an unused one. In this system as in all current systems an empty stack or cartridge must be provided to allow used cassettes or cassettes which are not required to be positioned at least as an interim measure. This, of course, requires additional space.
Known forms of stack and stack mechanism passively download a cassette under gravity, that is a cassette in removed from the bottom of a stack, usually by means of a slot provided in vertical members which confine the cassettes. The cassettes are returned to the top of a separate stack, that is the are merely dropped onto another stack. It will be appreciated that in cases as mentioned above an interim stack is used a cassette maybe dropped onto a stack containing none or few cassettes. In this case there is opportunity for the dropped cassette to misalign as it falls.
As mentioned above there are several potential problems with known mechanisms these can be sumarised as follows. There is an additional space requirement due to the need for 2 stacks. Down stack errors occur causing system failure, caused by the adhesion of two plates in a stack and imprecise location of plates being lowered from the stacker. Up stack errors due to the mechanical force required to lift the weight in the return stack. Stacks are merely plugged into the stacker mechanism, allowing the entire cartridge to be forced out under load. Upon completion of a cassette content, the order of plates is reversed in the output requiring a restack back to the original order.
In a number of known systems, particularly, but not solely high throughput compound testing systems a robot or robot arm is used to remove or dispense a plate from a stack, optionally, move the plate to a test location and return the plate to either an interim or a final destination.
A known such robotic system is the CRS F3 robot. Robotic arm systems generally interface with a carousel were each plate is held separately on a shelf to remove these reliability problems, but they require time to load, often by hand, and use a large footprint. Known plate holding cassettes include one produced by Carl Creative Systems (Packard Bio-instruments). According to the invention there is provided a mechanism for removing a plate from a cassette of vertically stacked series of plates, the stack being confined within vertical members the mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates.
Advantageously the stack of plates is of the microtitre type.
Preferably the means to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
Preferably the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram.
Preferably the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
Preferably the plate to be removed is translated to a location where the plate is processed.
Alternatively the plate is translated to a location where it is further moved by for example by means of a robot.
Preferably the removed plate is returned to the top of the remaining stack.
The present invention may also be said to consist in a high throughput compound tester wherein plates having a plurality of compounds to be tested are provided in a stack, the stack being confined within vertical members, the tester including a mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates.
Advantageously the stack of plates is of the microtitre type.
Preferably the means to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
Preferably the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram.
Preferably the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
Preferably the plate to be removed is translated to a location where the compounds on the plate are tested.
Alternatively the plate is translated to a location where it is further moved by for example by means of a robot.
Preferably the removed plate is returned to the top of the remaining stack.
The present invention may also be said to consist in a high throughput compound tester wherein plates having a plurality of compounds to be tested are provided in a stack, the stack being confined within vertical members, the tester including a mechanism comprising means to grip the lower surface of the plate to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of plates; means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates and means to return the plate to the top of the remaining stack of plates.
The present invention may also be said to comprise a method of removing a microtitre plate from a cassette of vertically stacked series of such microtitre plates, the method comprising the steps of: gripping the lower surface of the microtitre plate to be removed; lowering the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; supporting the remaining stack of microtitre plates; and translating the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of microtitre plates.
Preferably the method of removing a microtitre plate further comprising the step of translating the removed microtitrre plate to a location where the plate is processed.
To allow a better understanding, a mechanism, which embodies the present invention, will now be described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one preferred form of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front fragmentary elevation of another preferred form of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a fragmentary back elevation of the form of the invention as shown in figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a fragmentary side elevation of the form of the invention as shown in figures 2 and 3.
In the preferred form of the invention 1 as shown in figure 1 a stack 2 is provided of plates. The plates, for example 3, 4 and 5 may in particular but not exclusively, be of the type, which consist of planar objects, which have a series of indents therein. Herein the term plate is held to include plates, trays and other planar objects, which can be separately manipulated. These objects may or may not have a series of indents therein. They may, for example, have traces of substance smeared on the surface thereof. They may contain indents, which are used to hold other containers such as small test tubes. The indents or test tubes may be used to contain compounds or other substances, which are to tested or otherwise, processed.
Such plates are provided in a stack 2, which consists of a number of vertically arranged plates 3 and 4 plus, the unlabelled, but illustrated intermediate plates. Such stacks 2 may be confined by means of vertical members (not illustrated in figure 1 for the purposes of clarity) to ensure that the stack 2 is stable. Such a stack may be termed a cassette or cartridge. Such stacks 2 and their associated movement mechanism are widely employed in high throughput screening equipment utilized in the drug discovery process. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates that the cassettes may be utilized for other purposes.
The first preferred form of the invention provides means 6 to support the lower surface of the stack 2. Such means 6 may consist of a catch or a hinged member which supports the one two or more lower edges of the lowest plate 3 in the stack 2. The purpose of the means 6 is to support the lower most plate 3 and hence the stack to ensure that it does not translate vertically. It must however allow the lower most plate 3 to be removed when it is desired to do so.
Means 7 are always provided to grip or hold the lower most plate 3 and to translate it vertically downwards. The means 7 consists of means to grip the lower most surface of the lower most plate 3, in this case consisting of a planar member 8 having a vacuum therein. The member 8 is placed in contact with the lower surface of the lower most plate 3 and the vacuum draws the surface to the member thus gripping the lower most plate 3. The member 8 is translated by means of a pneumatic ram 9. The ram 9 provides vertical movement of the member both to allow it to rise into contact with the lower most surface of the lower most plate 3 and to lower the plate 3 (once the means 6 to support the lower surface of the stack is released).
Means 10 to translate the lower most plate 3 are also provided. In a preferred form of the invention such means comprises a pneumatic ram which simply pushes or translates the plate to be removed or lower most plate 3 away from the stack of plates 2. The plate to be removed or lower most plate slides along supporting means 11 to a distal end 12 thereof. At the distal end 12 the compounds which are preferably present on the plate 3 maybe subjected to testing. However the plate 3 is preferably further dealt with at the distal end 12, for example a robot maybe utilised to further move the plate 3 to a different location at which the compounds present on the plate are tested or otherwise dealt with. In the most preferred form of the invention once the plate 3 has been dealt with it is returned to the top 4 of the stack 2. The need for a second interim stack is thus eliminated.
Figures 2 to 4 show another preferred form of the present invention in which means 13 are provided to contain the stack 2 and thus improve stability. Such means 13 may comprise vertical members, which align the stack 2 but allow individual plates to move vertically downwards as required.
In, at least, a preferred form of the present invention:
1) A single cassette or stack of plates 2 are used with a down stack for access, followed by the return of the plate 3 to the top 4 of the stack 2 by the robot.
2) Because the mechanism cycles plates within a stack 2 the plate order is maintained.
3) The incorporation of an air ram 8 to create a vacuum to grip the plate 3 and pull it out of the base of a stack 2 provides more control of the removal of a plate as opposed to allowing it to occur under the force of gravity.
4) The plate 3 is presented to the robot, which is preferably present, in a constant position 12
5) Plates are clamped to the mechanism by means 6 thus improving stability.

Claims

1 A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates, the stack being confined within vertical members, the mechanism comprising: means (7) to grip the lower surface of the microtitre plate (3) to be removed; means to lower (9) the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaining stack of microtitre plates; and means to translate the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of microtitre plates.
2. A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means (7) to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
3. A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram (9).
4. A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
5. A mechamsm (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the removed microtitrre plate (3) to be removed is translated (10) to a location where the plate is processed.
6. A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the microtitre plate (3) is translated to a location where it is further processed by means of a robot.
7. A mechanism (1) for removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the removed plate is returned to the top of the remaining stacked series.
8. A high throughput compound tester wherein micrometer plates having a plurality of compounds to be tested thereon are provided as a series in a stack (2), the stack (2) being confined within vertical members, the tester including a mechanism comprising means (7) to grip the lower surface of the plate (3) to be removed; means to lower the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; means to support the remaimng stack of plates; means to translate the plate (3) to be removed away from the remaining stack of plates (2); means to test the compound(s) on said plate (3) and means to return the plate to the top of the remaining stack of plates.
9. A high throughput compound tester as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means (7) to grip the lower surface of the plate comprises a vacuum.
10. A high throughput compound tester as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the means to translate the plate comprises a pneumatic ram (9).
11. A high throughput compound tester as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the means to support the remaining plates comprises a catch.
12. A high throughput compound tester as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the removed microtitre plate (3) to be removed is translated (10) to a location where the compound(s) on the plate are processed.
13. A method of removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates, the method comprising the steps of: gripping the lower surface of the microtitre plate (3) to be removed; lowering (9) the plate to be removed whilst it is gripped; supporting the remaining stack of microtitre plates; and translating the plate to be removed away from the remaining stack of microtitre plates.
14. A method of removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in claim 13 wherein the gripping of the lower surface of the plate is by means of a vacuum.
15. A method of removing a microtitre plate (3) from a cassette of vertically stacked series (2) of such microtitre plates as claimed in claim 13 or 14 further comprising the step of translating the removed microtitrre plate (3) to a location where the plate is processed.
PCT/SE2001/001930 2000-09-07 2001-09-07 Plate handling mechanism WO2002021144A1 (en)

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GB0021987A GB0021987D0 (en) 2000-09-07 2000-09-07 Plate handling mechanism
GB0021987.3 2000-09-07

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WO2005085874A1 (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-09-15 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Apparatus of supplying and containing micro-plate, method of supplying and method of containing micro-plate and apparatus of processing micro-plate
WO2007110508A1 (en) * 2006-03-27 2007-10-04 Lionel Muller Device and method for automatically supplying open sample containers to an analyzer
EP2040055A3 (en) * 2007-09-21 2012-05-09 Thermo Shandon Limited Tissue cassette dispensing apparatus
EP3370066A4 (en) * 2015-10-28 2019-07-10 Boditech Med Inc. Horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges
US20220042983A1 (en) * 2018-12-21 2022-02-10 Kenota Inc. Flow assay analyzer
US12085563B2 (en) * 2019-12-20 2024-09-10 Kenota Inc. Flow assay analyzer

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US5149654A (en) * 1989-11-21 1992-09-22 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Incubation device for microtiter plates
WO1999021016A1 (en) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-29 Jenoptik Aktiengesellschaft Pipette and handling automatic machine for microtitration plates with permeable bases

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WO2005085874A1 (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-09-15 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Apparatus of supplying and containing micro-plate, method of supplying and method of containing micro-plate and apparatus of processing micro-plate
WO2007110508A1 (en) * 2006-03-27 2007-10-04 Lionel Muller Device and method for automatically supplying open sample containers to an analyzer
EP2040055A3 (en) * 2007-09-21 2012-05-09 Thermo Shandon Limited Tissue cassette dispensing apparatus
US8418881B2 (en) 2007-09-21 2013-04-16 Thermo Shandon Ltd. Tissue cassette dispensing apparatus
US8651325B2 (en) 2007-09-21 2014-02-18 Thermo Shandon Ltd. Tissue cassette dispensing apparatus
EP3370066A4 (en) * 2015-10-28 2019-07-10 Boditech Med Inc. Horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges
US11613427B2 (en) 2015-10-28 2023-03-28 Boditech Med Inc. Horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges
US20220042983A1 (en) * 2018-12-21 2022-02-10 Kenota Inc. Flow assay analyzer
US12085563B2 (en) * 2019-12-20 2024-09-10 Kenota Inc. Flow assay analyzer

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AU2001284614A1 (en) 2002-03-22

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