Patent ID: 7101511

Claim:
A microplate liquid handling system comprising: a main frame body; a dispensing mechanism including a plurality of cylinders extending side by side and in parallel with each other to provide a linear cylinder array, each cylinder having a nozzle and a plunger, and dispensing tips each being attachable to each nozzle for performing suction and discharge of liquid reagent or specimen through the dispensing tips by way of each plunger; a moving mechanism supported to the main frame body configured to move the dispensing mechanism in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions directed perpendicular to each other; and a rotating mechanism that rotates the dispensing mechanism by a predetermined angle about a vertically directed rotation axis for changing a direction of the array of the plurality of cylinders, the rotating mechanism comprising an abutment member fixed to the main frame body, and a disc member disposed coaxially with the rotation axis of the dispensing mechanism and selectively contactable with abutment member, the dispensing mechanism being rotatable about the rotation axis upon movement of the dispensing mechanism by the moving mechanism and upon contact of the disc member with the abutment member.