# US 7,608,456 B2 · Micro plate treating device and micro plate carrying method

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- Number: US 7,608,456 B2
- Document ID: US7608456B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/554,924
- Filed: 2005-04-05
- Published: 2006-09-21
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-04-07
- Assignees: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Akira Higuchi; Eiji Watanabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608456B2

## CPC

- G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates}
- G01N 2035/0405: {manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers}
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T 436/113332: with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
- Y10T 436/114165: with step of insertion or removal from test line
- Y10T 436/114998: with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

In a microplate processing apparatus that removes lid (11) of microplate (10) conveyed by microplate conveying mechanism (3), performs a dispensing process by dispensing head (8), and attaches lid (11) after the dispensing process is completed, lid (11) removed by lid removing mechanism (6) at second position (P2), is conveyed to fourth position (P4) located downstream, in advance of microplate (10) with this lid (11) having been attached, by microplate conveying mechanism (3), to be retained by lid attaching mechanism (9), and then is attached to microplate (10) having been conveyed to fourth position (P4), after the dispensing process is completed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of conveying a microplate in a microplate processing apparatus equipped with a conveyor belt, adapted to convey the microplate and lid to a plurality of positions including, as situated in upstream to downstream order, a lid removing position, an intermediate position, and a lid attaching position, the method comprising:
a lid removing position conveying step for conveying the microplate with the lid thereof attached by the conveyor belt, to the lid removing position;
a lid removing step for removing the lid of the microplate at the lid removing position;
a lid placing step for placing the lid removed in the lid removing step, on a downstream position from the microplate with the lid having been attached, on the conveyor belt;
a lid conveying step for conveying the lid placed on the conveyor belt by the conveyor belt, from the lid removing position to the lid attaching position;
a lid picking up step for picking up the lid conveyed to the lid attaching position, from the conveyor belt, and for holding the lid;
an intermediate position conveying step for conveying the microplate with the lid removed by the conveyor belt, to the intermediate position;
a lid attaching position conveying step for conveying the microplate having undergone a given process at the intermediate position, to the lid attaching position;
a lid attaching step for attaching the lid held in the lid picking up step, to a microplate conveyed to the lid attaching position; and
a carrying out step for carrying out the microplate with the lid attached by the conveyor belt, from the lid attaching position, wherein the lid placing step includes:
a microplate evacuating step for conveying the microplate with the lid thereof removed, upstream, and for evacuating the microplate from the lid removing position, after the lid removing step; and
a lid positioning step for placing the lid on the removing position that is empty as a result that the relevant microplate is evacuated, after the microplate evacuating step.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of conveying the microplate of claim 1, wherein the lid removed from the microplate in the lid removing step, is attached to an original microplate with the relevant lid having been attached, in the lid attaching step.