Patent ID: 7534081
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: B01L,B03C,G01N

Abstract:
1. A control system for transferring a sample from a source vessel to a target vessel, the control system comprising: a vessel unit including a support plate for supporting the source vessel and the target vessel thereon; a primary transfer unit including at least one transfer device for transferring the sample from the source vessel to the target vessel, said primary transfer unit including a primary magnet unit and said transfer device uses a magnetic force to attract the sample thereto, and wherein said transfer device further includes a hollow pin body terminating at a tip and a magnet slidably disposed within said hollow pin body, and said primary magnet unit further comprises a magnet actuator system for driving said magnet to move from a first position adjacent said tip, wherein said magnet applies said magnetic force through said tip, to a second position away from said tip, wherein said magnetic force is removed from said tip; an x-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in an x-direction; a y-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a y-direction; a z-axis drive adapted to reciprocally translate one of said support plate and said transfer device in a z-direction, said x, y and z directions defining a three axis Cartesian coordinate system; and a control unit for controlling said x, y and z drives, wherein said magnet actuator system comprises: