Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention has a side panel with integrated shelving members and integrated locating members, both folded from the side panel. One method of fabricating the shelving members involves cutting a template of the shelving members and locating members onto the side panel and then folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to storage devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to microplate storage devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Determining and achieving the proper conditions that allow a protein to crystallize from solution often requires many attempts before the proper concentrations of protein and reagents is determined and achieved. Furthermore, even when the conditions permit crystallization, the rate of crystallization is often very slow, at times on the order of weeks or even months. As a result, manually performing protein crystallization experiments is a very labor and time intensive process. One method of increasing the chances of obtaining protein crystals in the first experiment, thus saving a significant amount of time, is to try as many different protein and reagent concentrations as possible in the initial experiment.  
         [0003]     Because protein crystallization experiments have traditionally been carried out in microplates, microplate storage hotels have been developed to store the numerous microplates prepared during the course of the experiment. Furthermore, because the preparing of the vast number of microplates and the periodic checking of each microplate for protein crystals are so labor intensive, automated protein crystallizers have been developed. These automated protein crystallizers are capable of utilizing multiple microplate storage hotels to increase the number of conditions that can be tested in a single experiment. The multiple microplate storage hotels of an automated protein crystallizer provide high density storage of microplates, but also make up a significant fraction of the total cost of the crystallizer.  
         [0004]     One problem when constructing complex, automated instruments using multiple microplate storage hotels is the need to know where each hotel and microplate is positioned, as well as the hotel&#39;s alignment and registration relative to other hotels and to the system frame. This information is required to facilitate the proper automated loading and unloading of microplates by a robotic plate handler from the microplate storage hotel. If the microplate storage hotel is not properly positioned, then the robotic plate handler cannot properly engage the microplates in the hotel.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a low cost microplate storage hotel. It is also desirable to provide a way to determine the position, alignment and registration of the microplate storage hotel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in some embodiments an apparatus is provided that integrates a plurality of shelving members and locating members with a pair of side panels for the construction of a microplate storage hotel. In addition, in some embodiments of the invention the microplate storage hotel has a base plate with integrated features that provide hotel position, alignment and registration information.  
         [0007]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a side panel is provided. The side panel has a plurality of integrated shelving members, a plurality of integrated locating members flanking the shelving members, and an integrated locking flap located on the top of the side panel, that are formed from one contiguous piece of material. In some embodiments of the invention, the side panel is connected to a base plate having both a positioning slot and an alignment slot.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating the side panel is provided. The method includes laser cutting the shelving member and locating members onto the side panel at the same time from a single template, and then folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining the storage unit&#39;s position is provided. The method includes locating the right edge of the positioning slot associated with the storage unit, locating the left edge of the positioning slot associated with the storage unit, and locating the top edge of the positioning slot associated with the storage unit.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for aligning and registering the storage unit is provided. The method includes fitting an alignment bar into an alignment slot on the base plate, and then scanning a barcode located on the surface defining the positioning slot on the base plate.  
         [0011]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a side panel is provided. The side panel includes an integrated means for shelving objects and an integrated means for locating the objects on the shelves. The side panel further includes an integrated means for locking the side panels in place, a means for attaching side panels to a base plate to form a storage unit, a means for determining the storage unit&#39;s position, and a means for determining the storage unit&#39;s alignment and registration.  
         [0012]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
         [0013]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0014]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an automated plate storage and imaging apparatus for protein crystallization in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the automated plate storage and imaging apparatus for protein crystallization shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view illustrating a microplate storage hotel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the microplate storage hotel shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the microplate storage hotel shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a side panel of the microplate storage hotel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the side panel of the microplate storage hotel shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the side panel of the microplate storage hotel shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a base plate of the microplate storage hotel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a top plate of the microplate storage hotel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a way to store microplates in a high density and cost effective manner in a complex instrument. Furthermore, some embodiments also provide a way to determine the position, alignment and registration of a microplate storage hotel relative to other hotels and to the instrument&#39;s frame.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an automated plate storage and imaging apparatus  20  for protein crystallization. The apparatus  20  has a system frame  22  that supports the housing of multiple microplate storage hotels  24 . A robotic microplate handler  26  shown in  FIG. 2 , controlled by a computer system  28 , is used to transfer a microplate  30  to the imager  32 . The computer system  28  has a monitor  34  and is used to analyze the data collected by the imager  32 . The imager  32  can take images under brightfield, darkfield, and polarized illumination, that can then be analyzed by the computer system  28  for the detection and characterization of protein crystals. The imager  32  can be a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera or other optical, or non-optical imaging device. The computer system  28  is fully programmable to analyze the microplates  30  in any particular order at any defined times. This makes it very simple to determine protein crystal growth kinetics by analyzing a microplate  30  over a period of time.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the microplate storage hotels  24  can be stored adjacent to each other in a highly dense configuration on the system frame  22 . This allows for a large number of microplates  30  to be stored in a relatively small amount of space, saving valuable laboratory space for other instruments or other purposes.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a microplate storage hotel  24 . The hotel  24  has two parallel side panels  36  and  38 , that are identical to each other. Each side panel  36  and  38  can serve as either the left or right side panel  36  and  38 . The two parallel side panels  36  and  38  are connected at one end to a base plate  40  and at the other end to a top plate  42 . The connections may be formed by using a rivet, nut and bolt, screw, nail, other mechanical means, welding with solder, welding without solder, arc welding, spot welding, torch welding, other welding means, glue, epoxy, resin, other adhesive means, or by another suitable means to connect objects together. The side panels  36  and  38 , base plate  40 , and top plate  42  can be constructed out of metal, plastic, wood, or another material suitable for construction purposes. In one embodiment, the side panels  36  and  38  are made of stainless steel while the base plate  40  and top plate  42  are made of aluminum.  
         [0029]     The side panels  36  and  38  have both a plurality of integrated shelving members  44  and a plurality of integrated locating members  46  and  48 , which function to hold the microplate  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) and align the microplate  30  in a shelving slot  50 , respectively. The integrated locating members  46  and  48  have surfaces  52  (see  FIG. 6 ) positioned at approximately 45 degree angles that help guide the microplate  30  into a shelving slot  50  defined by the shelving members  44  and the side panels  36  and  38 . Inserting a microplate  30  into the microplate storage hotel  24  is accomplished by inserting the microplate  30  between the locating members  46  and  48  into the desired shelving slot  50 . The locating members  46  and  48  help center the microplate  30  in the shelving slot  50  if the microplate  30  is initially misplaced.  
         [0030]     The integrated shelving members  44  are laser cut and punched from the side panels  36  in a manner that results in a row of horizontal shelving members  44  that project into the interior of the microplate storage hotel  24 . The integrated locating members  46  and  48  flanking the shelving members  44  are laser cut and punched at the same time as the shelving members  44  from a single template which enhances the precision of the final shelving assembly. The technique of fabricating the integrated shelving members  44  and locating members  46  and  48  is not limited to laser cutting; other fabrication techniques such as mechanically cutting or stamping out the shelving members  44  and locating members  46  and  48  are in accordance with the invention.  
         [0031]     The base plate  40  has a positioning slot  54  that allows the microplate storage hotel&#39;s  24  position the be determined with a sensor on the robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) that locates either the left edge  56  of the positioning slot  54  or the right edge  58  of the positioning slot  54 , and the top edge  60  of the positioning slot  54 . Because the positioning slot  54  is both centered on the base plate  40  and made in one width for various embodiments of the hotel  24 , the locations of one side edge  56  or  58 , and the top edge  60  are sufficient for the sensor on the robotic microplate hander  26  in conjunction with the computer system  28  (see  FIG. 1 ) to determine the position of the microplate storage hotel  24 .  
         [0032]     The side panel  36  has an integral locking flap  62  that serves as both a mechanism to lock the microplate storage hotel  24  into place when set in the automated plate storage and imaging apparatus  20  (see  FIG. 1 ) and as an attachment point  64  for a handle  66 . The handle  66  can be made of steel, aluminum, another metal or metal alloy, plastic, or another suitable material. The locking flap  62  is engaged by a locking mechanism on the system frame  22  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of one embodiment of the microplate storage hotel  24 . The locating members  46  and  48  on the side panels  36  are slanted towards the shelving members  44 , and this helps align the microplates  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) on the shelving members  44 . A precise positioning of the microplates  30  on the shelving members  44  is necessary for the automated removal and insertion of microplates  30  from the microplate storage hotel  24 . Also shown in this figure is the locking flap  62  and handle attachment point  64 . Bolts, screws, nails, rivets, welding, or another suitable method can be used to attach the handle  66  to the handle attachment point  64 . The two bottom attachment points  68  on the side panel  36  connect the side panel  36  to the base plate  40 , while the two top attachment points  70  on the side panel  36  connect the side panel  36  to the top plate  42  depicted in  FIG. 3 . Bolts, rivets, another mechanical means, welding, or an adhesive can be used at the attachment points  68  and  70 .  
         [0034]     On the bottom of the base plate  40  is an alignment slot  72 . This slot  72  is mated to a corresponding alignment bar located on the system frame  22  (see  FIG. 1 ) to align the microplate storage hotel  24  with the system frame  22 . When the alignment bar is fitted into the alignment slot  72 , the microplate storage hotel  24  is oriented in the proper direction. After alignment, a sensor on the robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 1 ) is able to read a barcode  74  located on the base plate  40  depicted in  FIG. 3  in order to register the microplate storage hotel  24 . Microplate storage hotel  24  registration allows the automated plate storage and imaging apparatus  20  (see  FIG. 1 ) to know what type of microplate storage hotels  24  are being used, and furthermore, registration allows the user to program into the computer system  28  (see  FIG. 1 ) customized information regarding each microplate storage hotel  24  and the microplates  30  stored in the hotel  24 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of one embodiment of the microplate storage hotel  24 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the shelving members  44  project horizontally from the side panels  36  and  38  into the interior of the microplate storage hotel  24  and provide a support for the right and left edges of a microplate  30 . The amount of support provided to a microplate  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be increased or decreased by varying how far the shelving members  44  project into the interior of the microplate storage hotel  24 . The further the shelving member  44  projects into the interior of the microplate storage hotel  24 , the more the support that is provided to the microplate  30 . The vertical gap between a corresponding pair of shelving members  44 , allows the robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) to be inserted slightly under the microplate  30 , lifted until contact is made with the bottom of the microplate  30 , lifted further to separate the microplate  30  from the shelving members  44  and to clear the locating members  46  and  48  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and finally for the microplate  30  to be removed the from the microplate storage hotel  24 .  
         [0036]     Insertion of a microplate  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) into the microplate storage hotel  24  occurs in the reverse order as microplate  30  removal. The robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) carrying the microplate  30  is inserted into the shelving slot  50  of the microplate storage hotel  24  by a horizontal insertion above the locating members  46  and  48 , then lowered until the microplate  30  rests upon the shelving members  44 . The robotic microplate hander  26  is then lowered to remove contact with the microplate  30 , and finally removed from the microplate storage hotel  24 . If the microplate  30  is misplaced into the shelving slot  50  so that one edge of the microplate  30  rests upon a pair of locating members  46  and  48 , the microplate  30  will tend to slide down the angled locating members  46  and  48  until it properly rests upon the shelving members  44  in the shelving slot  50 .  
         [0037]     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , insertion and removal of microplates  30  can occur from both the front and back of the microplate storage hotel  24  because there is no obstruction of either the front entrance or back entrance; therefore the microplate storage hotel  24  is pass-through capable. This allows the robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) access to one side of the microplate storage hotel  24  and manual access from the other side of the microplate storage hotel  24 .  
         [0038]     Also visible in  FIG. 5  is the positioning slot  54  which is located on the front of the base plate  40 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the side panel  36  that shows that the shelving members  44 , the locating members  46  and  48 , and the locking flap  62  are all integrated into to the side panel  36 . Furthermore,  FIGS. 6 and 7  show the location of the two bottom attachment points  68  and the two top attachment points  70 . As mentioned above, the one-piece construction of the side panel  36  results in precision and reproducibility in terms of shelving member  44  position and alignment, as well as precision and reproducibility of locating member  46  and  48  position and alignment. Because the automated insertion and removal of microplates  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) from the microplate storage hotel  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) is facilitated by accurate positioning of the microplates  30  in the hotel  24 , this integration of features in the side panel  36 , along with the integrated features of the base plate  40  that are shown in detail in  FIG. 9 , enhances the overall performance of the microplate storage system and reduces the possibility of a machine failure during the insertion and removal process.  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  provides a side view and  FIG. 8  provides a front view of the side panel  36 .  FIG. 8  shows the locating members  46  and  48  slanted approximately at a 45 degree angle. However, other slant angles are also suitable and can be used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of the base plate  40  with the positioning slot  54  at the top of the figure and the alignment slot  72  running across the middle. Four base plate  40  attachment points  76  that connect the base plate  40  with the side panels  36  and  38  (see  FIG. 3 ) are visible in  FIG. 9 . Also visible are the four stationary attachment points  78  that serve to anchor the microplate storage hotel  24  (see  FIG. 3 ) in a fixed position. The stationary attachment points  78  are used when the microplate storage hotel  24  will not be moved during the operation of the automated plate storage and imaging apparatus  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). Nuts and bolts can be used to fasten the base plate  40  to the system frame  22  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0042]     Also shown are the three edges  56 ,  58  and  60  of the positioning slot  54  that are used to determine the microplate storage hotel&#39;s  24  position in space: the left edge  56  of the positioning slot  54 , the right edge  58  of the positioning slot  54 , and the top edge  60  of the positioning slot  54 . For example, in one embodiment of the invention an optical sensor located on the robotic microplate handler  26  (see  FIG. 2 ) can be used to locate either the left edge  56  or right edge  58  of the positioning slot  54 , and then the top edge  60  of the positioning slot  54 . Then the information collected by the optical sensor can be analyzed by a computer system  28  (see  FIG. 1 ) to determine the microplate storage hotel&#39;s  24  position in space.  
         [0043]     The alignment slot  72  shown in  FIG. 9  runs across the middle of the bottom face of the base plate  40 . A corresponding alignment bar in one embodiment of the invention fits into the alignment slot  72  to align and the microplate storage hotel  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) with respect to other microplate storage hotels  24  and the system frame  22  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  shows the front base plate hollow  80  and the rear base plate hollow  82  which serves to decrease the weight of the base plate  40 , and in some embodiments of the invention, to decrease the amount of material needed to construct the base plate  40 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of the top plate  42 . Like the base plate  40  depicted in  FIG. 9 , the top plate  42  also has a hollow  84  that functions to decrease the weight of the top plate  42 , and in some embodiments of the invention, to decrease the amount of materials needed to construct the top plate  42 . Finally, four top plate  42  attachment points  86  that connect the top plate  42  with the side panels  36  and  38  (see  FIG. 3 ) are shown.  
         [0046]     Although an example of the microplate storage hotel  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) is shown using microplates  30  (see  FIG. 1 ), it will be appreciated that other objects can be stored in the hotel  24 . Also, although the microplate storage hotel  24  is useful to store microplates  30  at high densities, it can also be used store other objects at high densities in a cost effective manner.  
         [0047]     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.