Patent ID: 8128870

Claim:
A drug discovery screening apparatus, comprising: an image measurement unit including an XY stage; an incubator unit integrally connected to the image measurement unit, the incubator unit including a carousel and a fixed stage; first conveyance means for conveying one of a plurality of plates between the carousel and the fixed stage; second conveyance means for conveying at least one of the plurality of plates between the fixed stage and the XY stage, the second conveyance means comprising a conveyance unit support section, a first conveyance arm, and a second conveyance arm, the first and second conveyance arms supported horizontally at different horizontal planes along the longitudinal axis of the conveyance unit support section, the first and second conveyance arms each being provided with hands for gripping the plates, the hands are movable horizontally along a respective one of the first and second conveyance arms; and a control unit for controlling operations of the image measurement unit, second conveyance means, and incubator unit; wherein the first and second conveyance arms can simultaneously convey one of the plurality of plates from the fixed stage to the XY stage and another of the plurality of plates from the XY stage to the fixed stage, such that two of the plurality of plates cross each other along the different horizontal planes, wherein the first and second conveyance arms are vertically movable along the conveyance unit support section.