Liquid handling apparatus

Abstract

A liquid handler system includes a probe transport system that has a plurality of carriages movable along a support. Each of the carriages carries a second support, which in turn carries a third support. A plurality of probes are linked to a movable holder on the third supports. Through operation of a liquid handler system of the invention, liquid may be selectively delivered to one or more of a plurality of liquid receptacles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automated liquid handler comprising: 
 a table including a work surface for receiving liquid containers;    a probe transport system supported above said work surface;    said probe transport system including a first elongated support extending in a first direction;    a plurality of first carriages independently movable along said first support;    a plurality of second elongated supports extending in a second direction, each of said second supports being mounted upon one of said first carriages;    a plurality of second carriages, each of said second carriages movable along one of said second supports;    a plurality of liquid transfer probes;    a pump assembly communicating with said liquid transfer probes;    each of said second carriages supporting at least one of said liquid transfer probes; and    at least one motor linked to each of said first and second carriages.    
     
     
         2 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first and second supports each include a track, respective of said first and second carriages riding on said tracks.  
     
     
         3 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of third elongated supports extending in a third direction, each of said third supports being mounted on one of said second carriages, a plurality of third carriages, each of said plurality of third carriages movable along one of said third supports, said at least one motor being linked to said third carriages.  
     
     
         4 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 3  wherein said first direction, said second direction and said third direction being generally perpendicular to one another to define a generally orthogonal X-Y-Z probe transport system.  
     
     
         5 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 3  wherein each of said plurality of third carriages moves generally vertically.  
     
     
         6 . An automated liquid handier as defined by  claim 3  wherein each of said plurality of second supports is of substantially the same length, and wherein each of said plurality of third supports is of substantially the same length.  
     
     
         7 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  and further including at least one controller linked to said at least one motor  
     
     
         8 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 7  wherein said at least one controller is operative to cause each of said plurality of first carriages and said plurality of second carriages to move independently of one another.  
     
     
         9 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein said at least one motor includes a drive motor on each of said first carriages operative to cause said first carriage to move along said first support.  
     
     
         10 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 9  wherein said at least one motor further includes a second motor on each of said first carriages operative to cause one of said second carriages to move along one of said second supports.  
     
     
         11 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first and second directions are generally perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         12 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first support includes a first threaded member and each of said plurality of first carriages has at least one threaded coupler engaging a segment of said first threaded member.  
     
     
         13 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 12  wherein said first threaded member being non-rotating, said threaded couplers being rotatable, and wherein each of said plurality of first carriages has a drive motor linked to said rotating threaded couplers  
     
     
         14 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 12  wherein said first support further includes a track, said plurality of first carriages being independently movable along said track, said track and said first threaded member being substantially parallel to one another.  
     
     
         15 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein each of said second supports includes a threaded member and a track that are generally parallel to one another, and wherein each of said second carriages has a mating threaded coupler engaging said threaded member.  
     
     
         16 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 15  wherein said second threaded member being rotatable, said mating threaded coupler on each of said second carriages being non-rotatable, and wherein each of said first carriages has a rotating motor linked to one of said second threaded members.  
     
     
         17 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein said work surface has a rear side edge, wherein said first support extends generally parallel to said rear side edge, and wherein said plurality of second supports are substantially perpendicular to said first support to extend over said work surface.  
     
     
         18 . An automated liquid handler as defined by  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of first carriages being self-propelled.  
     
     
         19 . A carriage system for use with a liquid handler system, the carriage system comprising: 
 a first and a second elongated support;    a first carriage movable along said first elongated support and a second carriage movable along said second elongated support, said first carriage including a first carriage driving motor linked to said first elongated support, and said first carriage including a second carriage driving motor linked to said second support.    
     
     
         20 . A carriage system as defined by  claim 19 , wherein said first support includes a first threaded member, said first threaded member being non-rotatable, wherein said second support includes a second threaded member, said second threaded member being rotatable, said first carriage driving motor linked to a mating coupler operable to rotatably engage said first threaded member, said second carriage driving motor linked to said second threaded member.  
     
     
         21 . A drive system for use in a liquid handler system, the drive assembly including: 
 a non-rotating threaded rod extending in a first direction; and    a plurality of carriages independently movable along said nonrotating threaded rod, each of said carriages including a drive motor linked to a rotating threaded coupler, said rotating threaded coupler engaging said non-rotating threaded rod.    
     
     
         22 . A drive system as defined by  claim 21  and further comprising a plurality of rotating threaded rods extending in a second direction, each of said rotating threaded rods being linked to a rotating motor carried on one of said plurality of carriages.  
     
     
         23 . An automated precision liquid handler comprising: 
 a table including a work surface for supporting a plurality of liquid receptacles arranged in an array;    a probe transport system supported above said work surface;    said probe transport system including a first track extending in a first direction;    a plurality of first carriages independently and simultaneously movable along said first track;    a plurality of supports extending in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction, each of said supports mounted upon one of said first carriages, each of said supports including a second track;    a plurality of second carriages, each of said plurality of second carriages movable along one of said second tracks;    a plurality of generally vertical elongated supports, each of said generally vertical supports including a third track, each of said plurality of generally vertical supports mounted upon one of said second carriages;    a plurality of third carriages, each of said plurality of third carriages movable along one of said third tracks;    a probe holder connected to each of said third carriages;    a plurality of liquid transfer probes carried on each of said third carriages;    a pumping system communicating with said liquid transfer probes;    at least one motor linked to said first, second, and third carriages; and    a controller linked to said pumping system and said at least one motor.    
     
     
         24 . A probe transport system for use with an automated liquid handler, the probe transport system for positioning at least one liquid probe over at least one liquid receptacle supported by the liquid handler, the probe transport system comprising: 
 a first support extending in a first direction, said first support including a first track and a generally parallel first threaded rod;    a plurality of first carriages independently movable along said first track in said first direction, each of said first carriages having a threaded mating coupler engaging spaced apart portions of said first threaded rod;    a plurality of second elongated supports extending in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction, each of said second supports being mounted upon one of said first carriages, each of said second supports including a second track and a generally parallel second threaded rod;    a plurality of second carriages, each of said plurality of second carriages movable along one of said second tracks and including a threaded mating coupler engaging one of said second threaded rods;    a plurality of third elongated supports extending in a generally vertical direction, each of said plurality of third supports including a third track and a generally parallel third threaded rod, each of said plurality of third elongated supports mounted upon one of said second carriages;    a plurality of third carriages, each of said plurality of third carriages movable along one of said third tracks and having a threaded mating coupler engaging one of said third threaded rods;    a probe holder connected to each of said third carriages, said probe holder holding at least one of the at least one liquid probes;    at least one motor linked to said first, second, and third carriages; and    a controller linked to said at least one motor.