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US 2026/0210990 A1Published application
Labware repositioning system
AssigneeNucleus Automation Partners, LLC
InventorMichael Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A labware repositioning system includes a motor having a rotatable shaft, a labware holder having a surface configured to hold a labware, and connected to the rotatable shaft, and a controller operatively connected to the motor and configured to control rotation of the rotatable shaft, and the attached labware holder. The controller is configured to rotate the labware holder and the labware positioned thereon to any desired number of rotational positions.
Claims23
A labware repositioning system comprising:
- a motor having a rotatable shaft;
- a labware holder having a surface configured to hold a labware, and connected to the rotatable shaft;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the motor and configured to control rotation of the rotatable shaft, and the attached labware holder wherein the controller is configured to rotate the labware holder to any desired number of rotational positions.
1 more element
A labware repositioning system comprising:
- a servo motor having a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis;
- a cylindrical hub mounted to the rotatable shaft;
- a labware nest assembly having a surface configured to hold a labware, and connected to the cylindrical hub;
- a controller operatively connected to the servo-motor and configured to control rotation of the rotatable shaft, and the attached labware nest assembly, wherein the controller is configured to rotate the combined labware nest adaptor to any desired number of rotational positions;
- a base plate, wherein at least one servo motor is mounted to the base plate;
- an infrared sensor mounting plate mounted to the flange of the servo motor by spacers that are connected to the flange and the infrared sensor mounting plate;
- an infrared sensor mounted to the infrared sensor mounting plate, wherein the infrared sensor includes a body having a first arm and a second arm, and is connected to an optical encoder;
- an alignment rod mounted to one of the labware nest assembly and the cylindrical hub, wherein the alignment rod extends transversely from the longitudinal axis of the servo motor and is configured to pass between the first and second arms of the infrared sensor when the hub and the attached labware nest assembly are caused to rotate;
- wherein in operation the controller is programmed to rotate the servo motor such that the labware positioned in the labware nest assembly is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the servo motor to any desired angular position relative to a longitudinal axis of the base plate, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and for any desired duration of time;
- and
- wherein in operation as the rotatable shaft of the servo motor rotates, the alignment rod passes between the first and second arms of the infrared sensor, thus allowing the connected optical encoder to define a reference point that establishes a home position for the combined labware nest adaptor and the labware positioned therein;
- and
- a power supply connected to the servo motor, the controller, and the infrared sensor.
10 more elements
A robotic liquid handling system comprising:
- a plurality of labware repositioning systems, each labware repositioning system including:
- a servo motor having a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis;
- a cylindrical hub;
- a labware nest assembly having a surface configured to hold a labware, and connected to the rotatable shaft;
- wherein the cylindrical hub is mounted to the rotatable shaft and to the labware nest assembly;
- a controller operatively connected to the servo-motor and configured to control rotation of the rotatable shaft, and the attached labware nest assembly, wherein the controller is configured to rotate the labware nest assembly to any desired number of rotational positions;
- a base plate, wherein at least one servo motor is mounted to the base plate;
- an infrared sensor mounting plate mounted to the flange of the servo motor by standoffs that are connected to the flange and the infrared sensor mounting plate;
- an infrared sensor mounted to the infrared sensor mounting plate, wherein the infrared sensor includes a body having a first arm and a second arm, and is connected to an optical encoder;
- an alignment rod mounted to one of the labware nest assembly and the cylindrical hub, wherein the alignment rod extends transversely from the longitudinal axis of the servo motor and is configured to pass between the first and second arms of the infrared sensor when the hub and the attached labware nest assembly are caused to rotate;
- wherein in operation the controller is programmed to rotate the servo motor such that the labware positioned in the labware nest assembly is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the servo motor to any desired angular position relative to a longitudinal axis of the base plate, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and for any desired duration of time;
- and
- wherein in operation as the rotatable shaft of the servo motor rotates, the alignment rod passes between the first and second arms of the infrared sensor, thus allowing the connected optical encoder to define a reference point that establishes a home position for the labware nest assembly and the labware positioned therein;
- and
- a power supply connected to the servo motor, the controller, and the infrared sensor.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.