Microplate stacker for plates with lids

摘要

A microplate stacker capable of removing and replacing standard microplate lids by separating a microplate from a lid located directly above the microplate in a stack of microplates and lids.

主权项

1. A microplate stacker comprising:
a cassette stack configured to retain a stack of a plurality of microplates and a plurality of lids corresponding to the plurality of microplates; a lift mechanism configured to raise or lower the stack of the plurality of microplates and the plurality of lids; a stack dog comprising retractable supports configured to extend into a gap between a microplate amongst the plurality of microplates and a corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of lids; an actuating mechanism configured to extend the retractable supports of the stack dog into the gap between the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates and the corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates; and a controller programmed to control the lift mechanism to position the stack of the plurality of microplates and the plurality of lids to a position at which the retractable supports are substantially aligned with the gap between the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates and the corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates, control the actuating mechanism to extend the retractable supports of the stack dog into the gap between the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates and the corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates, and control the lift mechanism to lower the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates to separate the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates from the corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates once the actuating mechanism extends the retractable supports of the stack dog into the gap between the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates and the corresponding lid of the microplate amongst the plurality of microplates.