Patent ID: 8470242

Claim:
A space efficient gantry assembly to drive tools on a laboratory instrument, the gantry assembly comprising: a first rod including a first keying feature; a second rod including a second keying feature, the second rod disposed parallel to the first rod; a first carriage to position a first tool, the first carriage configured to move along the first rod and the second rod and to receive the first keying feature, wherein rotation of the first rod drives the first tool; and a second carriage to position a second tool, the second carriage configured to move along the first rod and the second rod and to receive the second keying feature, wherein rotation of the second rod drives the second tool, wherein rotation of the first rod drives the first tool independently of rotation of the second rod, wherein rotation of the first rod drives the first tool independently of the movement of the first carriage, wherein the first tool includes a first sub-carriage configured to move with respect to the first carriage in a direction transverse to the first rod, and wherein the first carriage further includes: a first nut arranged to couple with the first keying feature of the first rod; a drive wheel fixed to the first nut; an idler wheel; and a belt connected between the drive wheel and the idler wheel and fixed to the first sub-carriage.