Automated pelletized sample blotting apparatus and methods

An automated sample tube blotting system comprising:

• a processing module;
• one or more rotary grippers, each rotary gripper having a respective tube strip holder, the one or more rotary grippers being rotatable between a first position in which the respective tube strip holder is upright and a second position in which the respective tube strip holder is inverted;
• a supply of absorbent material connected to the processing module;
• a transport mechanism movably connecting the one or more rotary grippers to the processing module and configured to move the one or more rotary grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the absorbent material, and in a vertical direction towards and away from the absorbent material;
• and
• an absorbent material removal mechanism connected to the processing module;
• wherein the transport mechanism comprises one or more pipette channels selectively connected to a respective one of the one or more rotary grippers.

An automated sample tube blotting system comprising:

• a processing module;
• one or more rotary grippers, each rotary gripper having a respective tube strip holder, the one or more rotary grippers being rotatable between a first position in which the respective tube strip holder is upright and a second position in which the respective tube strip holder is inverted;
• a supply of absorbent material connected to the processing module;
• a transport mechanism movably connecting the one or more rotary grippers to the processing module and configured to move the one or more rotary grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the absorbent material, and in a vertical direction towards and away from the absorbent material;
• and
• an absorbent material removal mechanism connected to the processing module;
• wherein the absorbent material removal mechanism comprises a movable arm having counter-rotating grippers.

An automated sample tube blotting system comprising:

• a processing module;
• one or more rotary grippers, each rotary gripper having a respective tube strip holder, the one or more rotary grippers being rotatable between a first position in which the respective tube strip holder is upright and a second position in which the respective tube strip holder is inverted;
• a supply of absorbent material connected to the processing module;
• a transport mechanism movably connecting the one or more rotary grippers to the processing module and configured to move the one or more rotary grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the absorbent material, and in a vertical direction towards and away from the absorbent material;
• an absorbent material removal mechanism connected to the processing module;
• and
• a paper supply container connected to the processing module and the holding the supply of absorbent material, the paper supply container comprising a box having an open top, a lip surrounding a portion of the open top, and a gap in the lip, the gap being adjacent the absorbent material removal mechanism to facilitate removal of individual sheets of absorbent material from the box.