Patent ID: 8790593

Claim:
A system for transferring viscous materials, said system comprising: a sample holding area for receiving and positioning a plurality of receptacles and comprising a cover member having a plurality of openings through which an automated pipettor can access the receptacles positioned beneath the cover member, the openings being arranged so that each opening is associated with one of the receptacles, wherein a top side of the cover member includes a plurality of raised structures, each raised structure being adjacent to one of the openings and including two generally upright, non-coplanar sides defining a corner at a transition therebetween; an automated pipettor operatively associated with the sample holding area, the pipettor being configured for automated movement with respect to the sample holding area and including a fluid transfer probe; and a controller for controlling movement of the probe of the pipettor, the controller being programmed to selectively: move the probe into a position aligned with one of the openings; lower the probe through the opening and into the associated receptacle below the opening; raise the probe out of the associated receptacle to a position above the cover member; move the probe laterally to a position offset from the opening and adjacent the raised structure associated with the opening with the distal end of the probe disposed below a top surface of the associated raised structure; and move the probe laterally, relative to the corner of the associated raised structure, along a path comprising movement in first and second directions, the transition from the first direction to the second direction causing a string of viscous material suspended from the probe to contact the corner.