Patent ID: 7168442

Claim:
A liquid handling system comprising: a first receptacle provided with a first liner that is movable between a lining position, in which it lines the first receptacle, and an inverted position, in which it covers the first receptacle; a second receptacle provided with a second liner that is movable between a lining position, in which it lines the second receptacle, and an inverted position, in which it covers the second receptacle; a first region defined between the first receptacle and the first liner, the first region being in fluid communication with a first gas vent for venting gas from the first region; a second region defined between the second receptacle and the second liner, the second region being in fluid communication with a second gas vent for venting gas from the second region; a first fluid communication path between the first and second receptacles for transferring liquid between the first receptacle and the second receptacle; a gas supply that selectively supplies gas to either (a) the first region to move the first liner towards the inverted position such that liquid within the first receptacle can be transferred to the second receptacle through the first fluid communication path; or (b) the second region to move the second liner towards the inverted position such that liquid within the second receptacle can be transferred to the first receptacle through the first fluid communication path; and a liquid ballast flowable between the first and second regions through a second fluid communication path in a direction opposite to a direction of flow of the liquid between the first and second receptacles.