Plate washing system with ultrasonic cleaning of pipes and a control method thereof

摘要

An automated method of cleaning the pipes of a plate washing system is provided. The plate washing system includes at least one manifold having a plurality of pipes configured to be provided within wells of a plate in order to wash the wells, an ultrasonic transducer mounted to a tank, and a control system. The plate washing system also includes sensors to sense the position of the pipes relative to plate and the tank, and the fluid level within the wells of the plate. The method includes dispensing fluid to the tank, submerging the tips of the pipes within the fluid, activating the ultrasonic transducer in order to vibrate the fluid, and aspirating the fluid from the tank. The control system may initiate a cleaning operation at the request of the user, at a scheduled interval, or when the level sensing system detects a decrease in instrument function.

主权项

1. A plate washing system, comprising:
at least one manifold having a plurality of pipes configured to be provided within wells of a plate in order to wash the wells when the plate is in a washing position, wherein the plurality of pipes includes a plurality of dispense pipes; a tank that is capable of being filled with a fluid; an ultrasonic transducer mounted to the tank; a liquid level sensor including at least one probe; and a control system configured:
to move the plate between the washing position and a sensing position, wherein the liquid lever sensor is aligned with the plate;to relatively move the at least one probe and the plate to sense a liquid level in one or more wells to determine, based on the sensed liquid level, whether a volumetric function of the dispense pipes has been impaired;to position the plurality of pipes within the tank; and to activate the ultrasonic transducer in order to vibrate the fluid within the tank when tips of the plurality of pipes are positioned within the tank and when the volumetric function of the dispense pipes has been impaired.