US 11,940,457 B2
Robotic arm of an automated pipetting system
Thomas Geiges, Mannedorf (CH)
Assigned to TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed by TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed on Nov. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/524,217.
Claims priority of application No. 20 207 870 (EP), filed on Nov. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155327 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B01L 3/02 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); B25J 18/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); H01H 1/40 (2006.01); H01H 3/16 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/0099 (2013.01) [B01L 3/021 (2013.01); B01L 9/54 (2013.01); B25J 18/00 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01); B01L 2300/12 (2013.01); B01L 2300/123 (2013.01); B01L 2300/126 (2013.01); G01N 2035/1013 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A robotic arm of an automated pipetting system comprising:
a pipetting tip adapter and a switch to detect the presence of pipetting tips on said pipetting tip adapter, wherein the switch is a slide switch comprising:
a first support member and a second support member configured to slide relative to one another between first and second positions along a movement axis when a pipetting tip is mounted on or detached from said pipetting tip adapter,
an electrically conducting contact pad arranged on said first support member, and
the first position of said first and second support members defined by an electrically conducting terminal physically attached to said second support member in physical contact with said contact pad, whereas said terminal is a first resilient wiping member expanding along said movement axis, and the second position of said first and second support members is defined when said first wiping member is not in physical contact with said contact pad, and an electric current can flow between said first wiping member and said contact pad when said first and second support members are in the first position, and said electric current between said wiping member and said contact pad is disrupted when said first and second support members are in the second position.