Microplate storage apparatus and method

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention has a side panel with integrated shelving members and integrated locating members, both folded from the side panel. One method of fabricating the shelving members involves cutting a template of the shelving members and locating members onto the side panel and then folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.

1 . A side panel comprising a plurality of integrated shelving members, and a plurality of integrated locating members flanking both sides of the shelving members and slanted towards the shelving members, that are formed from one contiguous piece of material.  
   
   
       2 . The side panel of  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated locking flap.  
   
   
       3 . The side panel of  claim 1 , and a second side panel arranged in a mirror image to the first side panel, further comprising a base plate that is attached to the bottom of both the first side panel and the second side panel to form a storage unit.  
   
   
       4 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the first side panel is substantially identical to the second side panel.  
   
   
       5 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a top plate attached to the top of both the first side panel and the second side panel.  
   
   
       6 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a positioning slot in the base plate.  
   
   
       7 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises an alignment slot in the base plate.  
   
   
       8 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a shelving slot defined by two adjacent shelving members and both side panels, with an opening to both the front and back of the storage unit.  
   
   
       9 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises an integrated locking flap at the top of each side panel.  
   
   
       10 . The side panel of  claim 9 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a handle attached to the locking flaps.  
   
   
       11 . The side panel of  claim 3 , wherein the storage unit further comprises: 
 a top plate attached to the top of both the first side panel and the second side panel;    a base plate with both a positioning slot and an alignment slot; and    side panels with integrated locking flaps.    
   
   
       12 . The side panel of  claim 11 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a base plate and top plate with internal hollow spaces.  
   
   
       13 . The side panel of  claim 11 , wherein the side panel is comprised of stainless steel, the base plate is comprised of aluminum, and the top plate is comprised of aluminum.  
   
   
       14 . A method for fabricating the side panel comprising the steps of: 
 cutting the shelving members and locating members onto the side panel from a single template; and    folding the cut portions of the side panel to form shelving members and locating members.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting is accomplished with a laser.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting of the shelving members and locating members is done at the same time.  
   
   
       17 . A method for determining the storage unit's position comprising the steps of: 
 locating one side edge of the positioning slot associated with the storage unit; and    locating the top edge of the positioning slot associated with the storage unit.    
   
   
       18 . A method for aligning and registering the storage unit comprising the steps of: 
 fitting an alignment bar into an alignment slot on the base plate; and    scanning a barcode on the base plate.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , where the barcode is located proximate to the positioning slot.  
   
   
       20 . A side panel comprising an integrated means for shelving objects and an integrated means for locating the objects on the shelves that flank and slant towards the means for shelving.  
   
   
       21 . The side panel of  claim 20 , further comprising an integrated means for locking the side panels in place.  
   
   
       22 . The side panel of  claim 20 , further comprising a means for attaching a first side panel and a second side panel to a base plate to form a storage unit.  
   
   
       23 . The side panel of  claim 22 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a means for determining the storage unit's position.  
   
   
       24 . The side panel of  claim 22 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a means for determining the storage unit's alignment and registration.  
   
   
       25 . The side panel of  claim 22 , wherein the storage unit further comprises a means for accessing the storage unit from both the front and back sides of the storage unit.