Abstract: A liquid sample or liquid reagent reservoir kit employs a reusable reservoir base and disposable liners made of a clear transparent plastic material. Graduation marks are located on the sidewall surface of the basin in the reusable reservoir base, and are calibrated to measure liquid volumes in a disposable liner placed within the reusable reservoir base. The transparency of the clear disposable liner allows the liquid volume graduation marks on the sidewall of the basin in the reusable base to be observed through the disposable liner. The disposable liners are configured so that the liners can also be used as a cover. The geometry of the disposable liners facilitates tight nesting of stacked liners to facilitate shipping as well as storage on the laboratory bench top.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism for a hand-held pipettor provides for varying degrees of mechanical advantage along the stroke of the ejector button. The ejection mechanism can be used for either hand-held single channel pipettors or hand-held multi-channel pipettors having manually actuated ejection mechanisms.

Abstract: A liquid sample or liquid reagent reservoir kit employs a reusable reservoir base and disposable liners made of a clear transparent plastic material. Graduation marks are located on the sidewall surface of the basin in the reusable reservoir base, and are calibrated to measure liquid volumes in a disposable liner placed within the reusable reservoir base. The transparency of the clear disposable liner allows the liquid volume graduation marks on the sidewall of the basin in the reusable base to be observed through the disposable liner. The disposable liners are configured so that the liners can also be used as a cover. The geometry of the disposable liners facilitates tight nesting of stacked liners to facilitate shipping as well as storage on the laboratory bench top.

Abstract: A highly automated, high volume multichannel pipetting system which transfers liquid from mother plates to daughter plates, or from a fill station to daughter plates. The mother plates are stacked in one set of stacker assemblies, while the empty daughter plates are stacked in another stacker assembly. A plate handling assembly which is capable of moving the plates in three orthogonal directions retrieves the plates from the stacker assemblies, carries them to the pipetting head, and returns them to other stacker assemblies. The pipetting head is removable for replacement or repair thereof, or for insertion of another head assembly having a different number of pipetting channels. The head slides into the housing on slideways, and is retained in place by manually operable, threaded knobs mounted on shafts. The stacker assemblies include a chimney which is removable from a base. The plates may be stacked in the chimney and then inserted on the base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically removing used magazines with used pipette tips from a pipetting head in an automated pipettor, and for automatically inserting an unused or cleaned magazine with unused or cleaned pipette tips in their place. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism having two separate and independently operated gripping heads, 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 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 with a multiplicity of locations 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically removing used magazines with used pipette tips from a pipetting head in an automated pipettor, and for automatically inserting an unused or cleaned magazine with unused or cleaned pipette tips in their place. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism having two separate and independently operated gripping heads, 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 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 with a multiplicity of locations 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.

Abstract: A highly automated, high volume multichannel pipetting system which transfers liquid from mother plates to daughter plates, or from a fill station to daughter plates. The mother plates are stacked in one set of stacker assemblies, while the empty daughter plates are stacked in another stacker assembly. A plate handling assembly which is capable of moving the plates in three orthogonal directions retrieves the plates from the stacker assemblies, carries them to the pipetting head, and returns them to other stacker assemblies. The pipetting head is removable for replacement or repair thereof, or for insertion of another head assembly having a different number of pipetting channels. The head slides into the housing on slideways, and is retained in place by manually operable, threaded knobs mounted on shafts. The stacker assemblies include a chimney which is removable from a base. The plates may be stacked in the chimney and then inserted on the base.