PIPETTING TIP MAGAZINES'S HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A method and apparatus for automatically removing used magazines (300) with used pipette tips (310) from a pipetting head (41) in an automated pipettor, and for automatically inserting an unused or cleaned magazine (300) with unused or cleaned pipette tips (310) in their place. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism having two separate and independently operated gripping heads, (24, 26), one gripping head being associated exclusively with unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips, and the other gripping head being associated exclusively with used magazines and pipette tips. A transporting mechanism (100) is provided for moving the gripping heads between the pipetting head, a disposal mechanism, and a supply of unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips. The supply preferably includes a carousel (202) with a multiplicity of locations (220) for storing unused or cleaned magazines and tips in a vertical alignment. The carousel is rotated so that a compartment containing unused or cleaned magazines and tips is in alignment with an opening in the carousel. The gripping head automatically scans the carousel looking for the next available unused or cleaned magazine and tips for transport to the pipetting head.