Patent GB-1205751-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to multiple pipetting apparatus
Inventor: SEQUEIRA PETER JAMES LITTLEJOH
IPC: G01N35/02
Filed: 1966-07-23
Abstract: 1,205,751. Multiple pipetting apparatus. BAIRD & TATLOCK (LONDON) Ltd. 24 July, 1967 [23 July, 1966], No. 33226/66. Heading B1X. Multiple pipetting apparatus comprises a carriage 2, Fig. 14 for supporting in a generally rectangular array a plurality of receptacles, a positioning mechanism 3, Fig. 2, comprising a nozzle support 4 drive means 5 Fig. 1, and 6 Fig. 1. to move the carriage 2 and the positioning mechanism 3 respectively linearly relative to one another and to provide translational movement of the nozzle support from a position in which a nozzle carried thereby is above one receptacle to a position in which said nozzle is above another receptacle and movement of the nozzle support while said nozzle is in register with predetermined receptacles between an upper and lower position which the nozzle is spaced above the receptacle and a lower position in, which the nozzle extends into the receptacle and a measuring device 8, Fig. 12, operable to extract liquidfrom or dispense liquid into predetermined receptacles only when the nozzle support is in its lower position. The positioning mechanism 3, Fig. 2, comprises a nut 14 on a lead screw 15 coupled with motor 16 which is rotated intermittently to move mechanism 3 step by step. The nozzle support 4 is carried by arm 13 and comprises first and second pivoted frames 48, 49 each of generally parallelogramme formation arranged in spaced apart vertical planes, frame 48 being coupled with motor 17 to be pivoted about pivots 52 and 54 between upper and lower positions, bars 53, 55 and 64 remaining vertical. Bars 55 and 64 support nozzles in spring wire loops 78, Fig. 3. Thus when motor shaft 13a, Fig. 2, causes frame 48 to move from its upper to its lower position via link 48, and if at this time bar 81 engages a tongue on castellated edge 82 frame 49 remains in its upper position and as frame 48 rotates towards its lower position spring 71a, Fig. 3, urges the auxilliary arm 71 along side arm 67 so that nozzles carried by extensions 75 and 77 may extend into the same test tube. However, if bar 81 register with a recess in edge 82 the second frame 49 will be carried down with the first frame 48 with the inclined lower surface of plate 74 resting on the roller 73 so urging arm 71 towards arm 68 so that nozzles carried by extension 76, 77 will dip into the same test tube. When frame 48 is raised again it will cause frame 49 up with it by the interaction of the roller 73 and the plate 74. The measuring device 8, Fig. 12 comprises a replaceable base board 88, Fig. 14, carrying a plurality of syringes 90 together with a rotatable slide valve 91 which enables the syringes 90 connected thereto to be separately connected with nozzles 79 and 80 or externally of the apparatus to reagent reservoirs. The syringes 90 are operated by the rotation of crank 20, Fig. 1 in shaft 18 via connecting rod 97 and drive member 95, and the extent of the movement of member 90 and hence the quantity of liquid sucked in and discharged by the syringes 90 is controlled by the adjustable stop 117. Thus as shown in Fig. 12 in which the mechanism is shown in reverse compared to the mechanism 21 in Fig. 1, as shaft 18 rotates, bar 105 is moved to the right via connecting rod 97 where it engages pad 107 and then moves connected bar 95 to the right without compressing spring 109 and liquid is drawn into the syringe 90 until stop 117 prevents further movement of bar 95 to the right. Further movement of bar 105 compresses lost motion spring 109. Bar 105 is allowed to complete its stroke by compressing spring 109, during which 'time bar 99'engages end 113 of bell carnk lever 110 to operate valve 91 to reconnect the syringes appropriately. Bar 105, and hence bar 95 is then urged to the left by connecting rod 97 thus causing discharge from syringes 90 until further movement of bar 105 and bar 95 is prevented by stop 119. The rest of the movement of bar 99, is taken up about fixed pivot 102 by extension of lost motion spring 104, during which time bar 99 contacts end 112 of bell crank lever 110 to readjust valve 91. Micro switches 23 operated by cams 22 carried on shaft 18 serve through timing control 26 to correlate operation of motors 16, 17 and 19, Fig. 1. Thus with positioning mechanism 3 positioned as in Fig. 1, motor 17 is energised by a micro switch acting through control 26 to move nozzle support 4 to its lowermost position, where motor 17 is deenergised by control 26. After appropriate delay control 26 energises motor 19 to operate syringes 90 during the first half revolution of crank 20. Near the end of this first half revolution control 26 energises motor 17 to lift the nozzle support to its uppermost position. A micro switch 22 then causes energisation of the motor 16 to drive lead screw 15 to move positioning mechanism 3 through a distance equal to one tube pitch. Another micro switch then energises motor 17 to lower the nozzle support as before and the second half of the revolution of crank 20 causes liquid in the springes to be dispensed. Motor 17 is then energised to lift the nozzle support as before and the motor 16 to move the positioning mechanism. Throughout this time the drum 28 has been steadily driven from shaft 18 via a chain 25 to move carriage 2 inwardly of the apparatus, the lead screw 15 being at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the carriage. The carriage 2 may contain a water bath and resting trays containing the receptacles as described in Specification, 1,205,752.