# US 9,518,999 B2 · Instrument and process for the storing and/or processing of liquid samples > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,999 B2 - Document ID: US9518999B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/236,863 - Filed: 2011-09-20 - Published: 2012-09-27 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-20 - Assignees: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Martin Rapp - Inventors: Martin Rapp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518999B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates} - B01L 3/50853: {with covers or lids (closures for test tubes B01L3/50825)} - B01L 3/50851: {specially adapted for heating or cooling samples} - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering - B01L 2200/142: Preventing evaporation - B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes - B65B 7/2878: {by heat-sealing} - G01N 2035/0405: {manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers} - 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) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract An instrument and process for the automated storing and/or processing of liquid samples are disclosed. The instrument may comprise an instrument casing forming an internal space, a moving mechanism for moving at least one microplate for receiving the samples into and/or out of the internal space, and/or at least one rotatable sealing roller for pressing a sealing cover on the microplate while moving the microplate into or out of the internal space formed by the instrument casing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument for the automated storing and/or processing of liquid samples, comprising: an instrument casing forming an internal space; at least one liquid sample chemical processor for chemically treating the liquid sample and at least one liquid sample thermal processor for thermally treating the liquid sample contained within the internal space; a moving mechanism for moving at least one microplate for receiving said samples into or out of said internal space; at least one rotatable sealing roller for pressing a sealing cover on said microplate while moving said microplate into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rotatable supporting roller for supporting said microplate in a manner to counteract pressing of said sealing roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sealing roller can be heated so as to transfer heat to said sealing cover while pressing said sealing cover on said microplate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sealing roller is operatively coupled to a biasing member for biasing said sealing roller against said microplate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, further including an automated feeding mechanism for feeding said sealing cover upstream to said sealing roller while moving said microplate into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism comprises said sealing roller, said sealing roller being rotatably driven for moving said microplate into our out of said internal space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The instrument according to claim 2, wherein said moving mechanism comprises said supporting roller, said supporting roller being rotatably driven for moving said microplate into our out of said internal space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The instrument according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism comprises a tray for holding said microplate, said tray being movable into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The instrument according to claim 8, wherein said tray can be moved in an external position for loading or unloading said microplate to and from said tray located outside said instrument casing. ### Claim 10 A process for the automated storing and/or processing of liquid samples, comprising: providing a microplate for receiving said samples; placing a sealing cover over said microplate; moving said microplate into or out of an internal space formed by an instrument casing, the internal space comprising at least one liquid sample chemical processor for chemically treating the liquid sample and at least one liquid sample thermal processor for thermally treating the liquid sample; pressing said sealing cover on said microplate while moving said microplate so as to fix said sealing cover to said microplate; and processing the samples by the at least one liquid sample chemical processor and the at least one liquid sample thermal processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process according to claim 10, wherein said sealing cover is heated while said sealing cover is pressed on said microplate so as to thermally fix said sealing cover to said microplate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The process according to claim 10, wherein said sealing cover is placed over said microplate while said microplate is moved into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The process according to claim 10, wherein said microplate is automatically loaded or unloaded to and from a tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process according to claim 10, wherein said sealing cover is automatically placed over said microplate while said microplate is moved into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The process according to claim 10, wherein said sealing cover-sealed microplate is actively cooled in said internal space. ### Claim 16 An instrument for the automated storing and/or processing of liquid samples, comprising: an instrument casing forming an internal space; at least one liquid sample chemical processor for chemically treating the liquid sample, and at least one liquid sample thermal processor for thermally treating the liquid sample, said chemical processor and thermal processor contained within the internal space; a moving mechanism for moving at least one microplate for receiving said samples into or out of said internal space; at least one rotatable sealing roller for pressing a sealing cover on said microplate while moving said microplate into or out of said internal space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The instrument for automated storing and/or processing of liquid samples according to claim 16 wherein the thermal processor is configured for thermal cycling of the liquid sample.